Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Grows Stock Position in United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI) by 18.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,813 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC’s holdings in United Bankshares were worth $481,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its position in shares of United Bankshares by 1,921.1% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. grew its holdings in United Bankshares by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 3,115 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 285 shares in the last quarter. Milestone Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in United Bankshares during the 4th quarter worth approximately $201,000. Choreo LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Bankshares in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $206,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Bankshares by 377.2% in the 3rd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 5,641 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $209,000 after purchasing an additional 4,459 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.80% of the company’s stock.

United Bankshares Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:UBSI opened at $36.07 on Tuesday. United Bankshares, Inc. has a 12 month low of $30.68 and a 12 month high of $44.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.16 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $37.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.39.

United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) last posted its 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 earned $0.59 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that United Bankshares, Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Bankshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. United Bankshares’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.01%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UBSI has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of United Bankshares from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $43.00 price objective on shares of United Bankshares in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded United Bankshares from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Mark R. Nesselroad sold 6,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the director now owns 35,424 shares in the company, valued at $1,387,203.84. This represents a 14.48 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 3.66% of the company’s stock.

About United Bankshares

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.