Short Interest in Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNB) Grows By 148.5%

Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNB - Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 16,900 shares, an increase of 148.5% from the March 15th total of 6,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.6 days. Approximately 0.5% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Union Bankshares in a research note on Friday, April 5th. They issued a "hold" rating on the stock.

Union Bankshares Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ UNB traded down $0.14 during trading on Thursday, reaching $27.06. The company had a trading volume of 11,861 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,957. Union Bankshares has a twelve month low of $20.07 and a twelve month high of $32.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $122.31 million, a PE ratio of 10.82 and a beta of 0.86. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $30.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Union Bankshares (NASDAQ:UNB - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The bank reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter. Union Bankshares had a return on equity of 19.09% and a net margin of 16.74%.

Union Bankshares Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Saturday, January 27th were paid a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.32%. Union Bankshares's payout ratio is currently 57.60%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Bankshares

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in Union Bankshares by 617.3% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,205 shares of the bank's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,037 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Union Bankshares by 244.4% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,465 shares of the bank's stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 2,459 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new stake in Union Bankshares during the fourth quarter valued at about $183,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Union Bankshares by 8.5% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 7,763 shares of the bank's stock valued at $203,000 after acquiring an additional 610 shares during the period. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp purchased a new stake in Union Bankshares during the fourth quarter valued at about $241,000. 14.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Union Bankshares

Union Bankshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Union Bank that provides retail, commercial, and municipal banking products and services in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. It offers retail depository services, such as personal checking, savings, money market, IRA/SEP/KEOGH, and health savings accounts, as well as certificates of deposit.