United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is mixed but constructive: United Community Banks has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from eight analysts, with four holds and four buys. The average 1-year price target is $38.40.
• Recent earnings showed steady growth: The company reported $0.70 EPS, matching estimates, while revenue rose 11.6% year over year to $278.27 million. Analysts now expect full-year EPS of 2.95.
• Shareholders are also getting income support: United Community Banks announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, or $1.00 annually, implying a 3.0% yield. The payout ratio is currently 36.76%.

United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $38.40.

A number of research firms have recently commented on UCB. Wall Street Zen raised United Community Banks from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, May 17th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on United Community Banks from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on United Community Banks from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, June 15th. Stephens boosted their price objective on United Community Banks from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, Hovde Group dropped their price objective on United Community Banks from $38.00 to $37.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 27th.

Insider Activity at United Community Banks

In other news, EVP Richard Bradshaw sold 1,510 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.09, for a total value of $49,965.90. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 84,497 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,796,005.73. The trade was a 1.76% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.45% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Community Banks

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of United Community Banks by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 9,955 shares of the company's stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 298 shares during the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lifted its position in shares of United Community Banks by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 17,808 shares of the company's stock worth $556,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its position in shares of United Community Banks by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 11,761 shares of the company's stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of United Community Banks by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 3,880 shares of the company's stock worth $123,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Patten & Patten Inc. TN lifted its position in shares of United Community Banks by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN now owns 8,266 shares of the company's stock worth $258,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. 82.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Community Banks Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of United Community Banks stock opened at $32.81 on Monday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $33.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $3.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.06 and a beta of 0.82. United Community Banks has a 1-year low of $27.70 and a 1-year high of $36.77.

United Community Banks (NYSE:UCB - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.70. The firm had revenue of $278.27 million for the quarter. United Community Banks had a return on equity of 9.65% and a net margin of 22.05%.The firm's revenue was up 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.58 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that United Community Banks will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

United Community Banks Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. United Community Banks's payout ratio is currently 36.76%.

United Community Banks Company Profile

United Community Banks, Inc NYSE: UCB is a bank holding company headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. It operates primarily through its subsidiary, United Community Bank, providing a broad range of banking and financial services to individual, business and governmental customers. The company's core offerings include deposit accounts, commercial and consumer lending, mortgage origination, treasury and cash management services, and wealth management.

In addition to traditional banking products such as checking, savings and money market accounts, United Community Bank specializes in commercial real estate financing, small business administration (SBA) loans, equipment financing and agricultural lending.

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