Union Bankshares Garners Attention with New Analyst Coverage

Union Bankshares, traded under NASDAQ:UNB, has begun to receive new analyst coverage from StockNews.com. The financial research firm has issued a 'hold' recommendation for the bank's stock as part of their recent report published on Tuesday. This suggests that the analysts are advising investors to maintain their position in the stock without rushing to buy more or sell off their existing shares.

Stock Performance Insights

The announcement comes as Union Bankshares' stock was observed to open at $30.55 on Tuesday. The stock shows steady performance with its 50-day moving average price settling very close to the opening price at $30.54, while the 200-day moving average is noted at $27.49. With a market capitalization of $137.69 million, the company maintains a P/E ratio of 12.22, and exhibits moderate volatility with a beta of 0.86. The bank’s stock has varied within a range of $20.07 to $32.00 over the past 12 months. Investors also watch the liquidity ratios closely, with the current ratio at 0.80 and a nearly identical quick ratio at 0.79. Furthermore, the bank has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, indicating a moderate level of debt management.

Quarterly Earnings Overview

Union Bankshares announced their latest quarterly earnings on January 17th, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) outcome of $0.68. The bank has showcased a strong return on equity at 19.89% and an impressive net margin of 18.38%, highlighting its profitability and efficiency in utilizing shareholders' equity.

Institutional Investor Activity

There has been notable activity among institutional investors with regards to Union Bankshares' stock. LPL Financial LLC, for instance, has increased its stake by 15.1%, now owning 26,335 shares. Cardinal Capital Management has similarly raised its investment by acquiring an additional 1,754 shares. Other significant players include FMR LLC, expanding their holdings by a substantial 48.3%, and BlackRock Inc., which increased their stake by 15.8%. On a smaller scale, Northern Trust Corp has incrementally raised its share count by 2.4%. Collectively, these institutional investments make up about 10.85% of the company's stock, reflecting a solid foundation of institutional support.

Business Profile of Union Bankshares

Union Bankshares operates primarily in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, providing an array of banking services such as personal checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and various retirement and health savings accounts. Moreover, it deals in certificates of deposit and extends commercial and municipal banking products and services.

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