United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) Sets New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI) shares reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $30.51 and last traded at $31.53, with a volume of 749016 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $32.34.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Piper Sandler reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $38.50 price objective on shares of United Bankshares in a report on Wednesday, March 12th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of United Bankshares from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $43.00 price target on shares of United Bankshares in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on United Bankshares from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $41.88.

United Bankshares Price Performance

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $36.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $37.89. The stock has a market cap of $4.53 billion, a PE ratio of 11.55 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

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 7.60% and a net margin of 22.94%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.59 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that United Bankshares, Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Bankshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. United Bankshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.01%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Bankshares news, Director Sara Dumond purchased 2,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 24th. The shares were bought at an average price of $35.01 per share, for a total transaction of $91,026.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,054 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $176,940.54. This trade represents a 105.95 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 3.66% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Bankshares

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of United Bankshares in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in shares of United Bankshares by 55.8% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 866 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 310 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its holdings in shares of United Bankshares by 1,921.1% during the 4th quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 1,435 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 1,364 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of United Bankshares by 37.0% during the 4th quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,480 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the period. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in United Bankshares in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $85,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.