Short Interest in Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNB) Increases By 100.0%

Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNB) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 12,600 shares, an increase of 100.0% from the November 30th total of 6,300 shares. Currently, 0.3% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 7,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.6 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Union Bankshares from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday.

Institutional Trading of Union Bankshares

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UNB. Community Financial Services Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Bankshares in the 3rd quarter worth about $220,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in Union Bankshares by 7.7% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 14,032 shares of the bank’s stock worth $301,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Union Bankshares by 10.4% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 30,924 shares of the bank’s stock worth $664,000 after buying an additional 2,914 shares during the period. Cardinal Capital Management boosted its position in Union Bankshares by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 74,413 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,930,000 after acquiring an additional 9,784 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Bankshares by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 40,503 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,050,000 after acquiring an additional 1,188 shares during the period. 14.84% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Bankshares Trading Up 0.7 %

UNB traded up $0.20 on Friday, hitting $28.60. 5,127 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,013. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $31.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $129.42 million, a PE ratio of 14.67 and a beta of 0.78. Union Bankshares has a 12 month low of $21.00 and a 12 month high of $37.70.

Union Bankshares (NASDAQ:UNB) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The bank reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Union Bankshares had a net margin of 11.74% and a return on equity of 13.14%.

Union Bankshares Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, October 26th were given a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.03%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 25th. Union Bankshares’s payout ratio is 73.85%.

Union Bankshares Company Profile

Union Bankshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Union Bank that provides retail, commercial, and municipal banking products and services in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. It offers retail depository services, such as personal checking, savings, money market, IRA/SEP/KEOGH, and health savings accounts, as well as certificates of deposit.