Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Purchases Shares of 270,530 Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new stake in Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 270,530 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $7,307,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.13% of Columbia Banking System at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in Columbia Banking System in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Columbia Banking System during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new position in shares of Columbia Banking System during the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Columbia Banking System during the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Columbia Banking System by 62.0% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,038 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 780 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.53% of the company's stock.

Columbia Banking System Stock Down 1.4%

COLB stock traded down $0.32 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $23.12. The company's stock had a trading volume of 386,580 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,784,216. Columbia Banking System, Inc. has a 52 week low of $18.20 and a 52 week high of $32.85. The stock has a market cap of $4.86 billion, a PE ratio of 9.12 and a beta of 0.63. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $23.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.11.

Columbia Banking System (NASDAQ:COLB - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.63 by $0.04. Columbia Banking System had a net margin of 17.99% and a return on equity of 11.21%. The firm had revenue of $481.92 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $482.86 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.65 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Columbia Banking System, Inc. will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Columbia Banking System Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.23%. Columbia Banking System's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.02%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently weighed in on COLB. Wall Street Zen began coverage on shares of Columbia Banking System in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. They issued a "hold" rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Columbia Banking System from $32.00 to $27.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Raymond James set a $27.00 target price on shares of Columbia Banking System and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. DA Davidson set a $25.00 target price on shares of Columbia Banking System and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Columbia Banking System from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $29.64.

Columbia Banking System Profile

Columbia Banking System, Inc operates as the holding company of Umpqua Bank that provides banking, private banking, mortgage, and other financial services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business, non-interest bearing checking, interest-bearing checking and savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts; and insured cash sweep and other investment sweep solutions.