United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) Cut to Sell at StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $43.00 target price on shares of United Bankshares in a research note on Monday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on United Bankshares from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday.

United Bankshares Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ:UBSI opened at $38.31 on Monday. United Bankshares has a 52-week low of $30.68 and a 52-week high of $44.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 0.97. The company has a market cap of $5.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.51 and a beta of 1.03. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $39.31 and its 200-day moving average is $38.29.

United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.01. United Bankshares had a return on equity of 7.58% and a net margin of 22.05%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.59 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that United Bankshares will post 2.73 earnings per share for the current year.

United Bankshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th were issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 13th. United Bankshares’s payout ratio is 54.01%.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Bankshares

In other United Bankshares news, Director Mark R. Nesselroad sold 6,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.16, for a total value of $234,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 35,424 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,387,203.84. The trade was a 14.48 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director J Paul Mcnamara sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.86, for a total transaction of $107,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 63,409 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,717,709.74. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 13,500 shares of company stock worth $542,110 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 3.66% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Algert Global LLC bought a new position in shares of United Bankshares in the 2nd quarter worth $441,000. Systematic Financial Management LP raised its position in shares of United Bankshares by 73.8% in the 2nd quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 279,039 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,052,000 after acquiring an additional 118,501 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in United Bankshares by 34.6% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,079 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 534 shares during the last quarter. Marathon Strategic Advisors LLC bought a new stake in United Bankshares in the third quarter valued at approximately $206,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of United Bankshares by 237.6% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 844 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 594 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.80% of the company’s stock.

United Bankshares Company Profile

United Bankshares, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily provides commercial and retail banking products and services in the United States. It operates through two segments, Community Banking and Mortgage Banking. The company accepts checking, savings, and time and money market accounts; individual retirement accounts; and demand deposits, statement and special savings, and NOW accounts.