On April 4, 2023,
Stephens & Co.
initiated coverage of United Community Banks with
a Overweight recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 30.14% Upside
As of March 30, 2023,
the average one-year price target for United Community Banks is $36.29.
The forecasts range from a low of $30.30 to a high of $39.90.
The average price target represents an increase of 30.14% from its latest reported closing price of $27.89.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for United Community Banks
is $1,066MM, an increase of 29.03%.
The projected annual non-GAAP EPS
is $3.43.
United Community Banks Declares $0.23 Dividend
On February 22, 2023 the company declared a regular
quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share ($0.92 annualized).
Shareholders of record as of March 15, 2023
will receive the payment on April 5, 2023.
Previously, the company paid $0.22 per share.
At the current share price of $27.89 / share,
the stock’s dividend yield is 3.30%.
Looking back five years and taking a sample every week, the average dividend yield has been
2.61%,
the lowest has been 1.46%,
and the highest has been 4.51%.
The standard deviation of yields is 0.59 (n=236).
The current dividend yield is
1.17 standard deviations
above
the historical average.
Additionally, the company’s dividend payout ratio is 0.38.
The payout ratio tells us how much of a company’s income is paid out in dividends. A payout ratio of one (1.0)
means 100% of the company’s income is paid in a dividend.
A payout ratio greater than one means the company is dipping into savings in order to maintain its dividend – not a
healthy situation.
Companies with few growth prospects are expected to pay out most of their income in dividends, which typically
means a payout ratio between 0.5 and 1.0.
Companies with good growth prospects are expected to retain some earnings in order to invest
in those growth prospects, which translates to a payout ratio of zero to 0.5.
The company’s 3-Year dividend growth rate is 0.28%,
demonstrating that it has increased its dividend over time.
What are Large Shareholders Doing?
IJR – iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
holds 7,373K shares
representing 6.41% ownership of the company.
No change in the last quarter.
Earnest Partners
holds 3,469K shares
representing 3.02% ownership of the company.
In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 3,218K shares, representing
an increase
of 7.22%.
The firm
increased
its portfolio allocation in UCBI by 0.43% over the last quarter.
Neuberger Berman Group
holds 3,463K shares
representing 3.01% ownership of the company.
In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 336K shares, representing
an increase
of 90.29%.
The firm
decreased
its portfolio allocation in UCBI by 99.49% over the last quarter.
Principal Financial Group
holds 3,075K shares
representing 2.67% ownership of the company.
In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 3,201K shares, representing
a decrease
of 4.12%.
The firm
decreased
its portfolio allocation in UCBI by 49.69% over the last quarter.
VTSMX – Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares
holds 3,052K shares
representing 2.65% ownership of the company.
In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 2,997K shares, representing
an increase
of 1.81%.
The firm
decreased
its portfolio allocation in UCBI by 3.96% over the last quarter.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 613 funds or institutions reporting positions in United Community Banks.
This is an increase
of
34
owner(s) or 5.87% in the last quarter.
Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to UCBI is 0.22%,
a decrease
of 10.98%.
Total shares owned by institutions increased
in the last three months by 1.09% to 111,620K shares.
The put/call ratio of UCBI is 0.63, indicating a
bullish
outlook.
United Community Banks Background Information
(This description is provided by the company.)
United Community Banks, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia, with executive offices in Greenville, South Carolina. United is one of the largest full-service financial institutions in the Southeast, with $17.8 billion in assets, and 160 offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. United Community Bank, United’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary, specializes in personalized community banking services for individuals, small businesses and companies throughout its geographic footprint, including Florida under the brand Seaside Bank and Trust. Services include a full range of consumer and commercial banking products, including mortgage, advisory, treasury management, and wealth management. Respected national research firms consistently recognize United for outstanding customer service. In 2020, J.D. Power ranked United highest in customer satisfaction with retail banking in the Southeast, marking six out of the last seven years United earned the coveted award. United was also named ‘Best Banks to Work For’ by American Banker in 2020 for the fourth year in a row based on employee satisfaction. Forbes included United in its inaugural list of the World’s Best Banks in 2019 and again in 2020. Forbes also recognized United on its 2020 list of the 100 Best Banks in America for the seventh consecutive year. United also received five Greenwich Excellence Awards in 2019 for excellence in Small Business Banking and Middle Market Banking, including a national award for Overall Satisfaction in Small Business Banking.
This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
