Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNB) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

Key Points

• Union Bankshares, Inc. experienced a significant 59.7% increase in short interest in July, totaling 110,000 shares, reflecting a short-interest ratio of 6.5 days.
• The company reported quarterly earnings of $0.53 per share and a revenue of $13.20 million, with a return on equity of 13.22%.
• Union Bankshares recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share, resulting in an annualized yield of 5.5% for shareholders.

Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNB - Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 110,000 shares, agrowthof59.7% from the June 30th total of 68,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 16,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.5 days. Currently,3.0% of the company's stock are sold short. Currently,3.0% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 16,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.5 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Wall Street Zen raised Union Bankshares from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st.

Union Bankshares Stock Down 2.0%

Union Bankshares stock opened at $26.25 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $27.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $30.00. The company has a market cap of $119.18 million, a PE ratio of 12.87 and a beta of 0.56. Union Bankshares has a fifty-two week low of $22.71 and a fifty-two week high of $37.70.

Union Bankshares (NASDAQ:UNB - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The bank reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $13.20 million for the quarter. Union Bankshares had a return on equity of 13.22% and a net margin of 11.17%.

Union Bankshares Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, July 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. Union Bankshares's payout ratio is presently 70.59%.

Institutional Trading of Union Bankshares

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of Union Bankshares by 24.0% in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,225 shares of the bank's stock worth $122,000 after buying an additional 819 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Union Bankshares by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 35,276 shares of the bank's stock worth $1,020,000 after buying an additional 1,474 shares during the last quarter. Cardinal Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of Union Bankshares by 2.1% in the second quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 84,511 shares of the bank's stock worth $2,250,000 after buying an additional 1,773 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Bankshares by 13.2% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 18,708 shares of the bank's stock worth $541,000 after buying an additional 2,176 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in shares of Union Bankshares by 16.8% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 30,880 shares of the bank's stock worth $893,000 after buying an additional 4,436 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 14.84% of the company's stock.

Union Bankshares Company Profile

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.

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