UCB

Financial Services

United Community Banks, Inc. · Banks - Regional · $4B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
53.3
Good

United Community Banks, Inc. scores 53.3/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Financial Services Sector
UCB
53.3
Sector avg
39.7
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Attractive

What is United Community Banks, Inc.?

United Community Banks, Inc. is the holding company for United Community Bank, a regional financial institution serving commercial, retail, government, healthcare, and real estate clients across its footprint. The bank delivers a broad range of deposit, lending, and wealth management services.

United Community Bank generates revenue primarily through interest income on loans — spanning real estate, consumer, and commercial categories — and fee-based services. It accepts checking, savings, and money market deposits, then deploys those funds into diversified lending. Beyond core banking, the company offers wealth management, trust services, insurance products, equipment finance, treasury management, and payment processing, giving it multiple revenue streams across the financial services value chain.

The holding company was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia.

  • Commercial, consumer, and real estate lending
  • SBA and USDA government-guaranteed loan origination
  • Wealth management, trust, and investment advisory services
  • Insurance products including life and long-term care
  • Treasury management and payment processing solutions

Is UCB a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates UCB as Good overall, reflecting a balanced but mixed profile across its five quality pillars.

The Valuation pillar stands out as Attractive, suggesting the market may not be fully pricing in the bank's asset base and earnings power relative to peers. Quality also registers as Good, indicating the bank maintains reasonable financial discipline for a mid-cap regional lender.

The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all register as Weak — pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained near-term growth prospects, and elevated risk factors that investors should weigh carefully.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does UCB pay dividends?

Yes — United Community Banks, Inc. pays a dividend.

United Community Banks pays a regular dividend, which is typical for established regional banks that generate steady net interest income. The dividend reflects management's commitment to returning capital to shareholders alongside reinvestment in the loan portfolio and fee-based businesses. Income-oriented investors often view consistent dividend payments as a signal of financial stability in the banking sector.

When does UCB report earnings?

United Community Banks reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed bank holding companies.

Regional bank earnings are closely tied to net interest margin trends, loan growth, and credit quality — all of which fluctuate with the interest rate environment. UCB's diversified revenue mix across lending, wealth management, and fee services provides some buffer against rate-cycle volatility.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance commentary, visit United Community Banks' investor relations page directly.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in United Community Banks, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$12,093
That's a +20.9% total return, or +3.9% annualized.

Based on United Community Banks, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

UCB Long-term Outlook

UCB's Growth and Risk pillars both register as Weak, suggesting the near-term fundamental outlook carries meaningful headwinds. Regional banks face pressure from deposit competition, credit normalization, and slower loan demand in a higher-rate environment. The Attractive Valuation pillar, however, indicates the stock may already reflect much of this caution — leaving room for re-rating if fundamentals stabilize.

Growth drivers

  • Expansion of fee-based services including wealth management and insurance
  • Government-guaranteed lending through SBA and USDA programs
  • Diversification across commercial, healthcare, and real estate sectors

Key risks

  • Weak Moat pillar signals limited pricing power versus larger regional and national banks
  • Elevated Risk pillar reflects credit quality and interest rate sensitivity
  • Constrained Growth pillar suggests organic loan and deposit growth may lag sector peers

UCB vs Peers

United Community Banks competes in the regional banking space alongside several similarly sized institutions, each with distinct geographic and product focuses.

ASBASimilar UQS
Associated Banc-Corp

Associated Banc-Corp operates primarily in the Midwest, giving it a different regional concentration and commercial lending mix compared to UCB's Southeastern footprint.

TFSLUCB scores higher
TFS Financial Corporation

TFS Financial focuses heavily on mortgage lending and savings products, making it a more narrowly specialized institution than UCB's diversified service model.

FULTUCB scores higher
Fulton Financial Corporation

Fulton Financial serves Mid-Atlantic markets and emphasizes community banking relationships, competing with UCB on small-business and commercial lending.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does United Community Banks do?

United Community Banks operates United Community Bank, a regional lender serving commercial, retail, government, healthcare, and real estate clients. It accepts deposits, originates loans, and provides wealth management, insurance, treasury management, and payment services across its geographic footprint.

Does UCB pay dividends?

Yes, United Community Banks pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with the bank's profile as an established regional financial institution that generates recurring net interest and fee income. Dividend continuity is a common feature of well-capitalized community and regional banks.

When does UCB report earnings?

UCB reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed bank holding companies. For exact release dates and investor presentations, check the investor relations section of the United Community Banks website directly.

Is UCB a good stock to buy?

UCB earns a Good overall UQS Score, with an Attractive Valuation pillar suggesting the stock may be reasonably priced relative to fundamentals. However, Weak scores in Moat, Growth, and Risk indicate meaningful challenges. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — view the full pillar breakdown on UQS Score.

Is UCB overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for UCB is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals when assessed through UQS's composite framework. This is one of the stronger signals in UCB's overall profile, though valuation alone does not determine investment suitability.

How does UCB compare to its competitors?

UCB competes with regional banks like Associated Banc-Corp, TFS Financial, and Fulton Financial. UCB differentiates through its Southeastern market presence and diversified service mix spanning lending, wealth management, and insurance. UQS Score provides side-by-side quality comparisons for each competitor on their respective pages.

What is UCB's market cap bracket?

United Community Banks is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in the segment of regional banks large enough to offer diversified services but smaller than the national money-center banks that dominate the financial services sector.

Who founded United Community Banks?

United Community Banks traces its roots to community banking in the Southeastern United States. The current holding company structure was established in 2000. For detailed founding history and executive leadership, the company's official about page and public filings are the most reliable sources.

Is UCB a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, UCB's Good overall UQS Score reflects a mixed picture. The Attractive Valuation and Good Quality pillar provide a reasonable foundation, but Weak Moat and Growth scores suggest the bank may face structural headwinds over time. Long-term investors should review the full pillar analysis available to UQS Pro members.

What is the main competitive advantage of United Community Banks?

UCB's competitive positioning rests on its diversified revenue model — combining traditional lending with wealth management, insurance, and government-guaranteed loan programs. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates as Weak, indicating this advantage may not be strongly differentiated versus regional banking peers.

What sector does UCB belong to?

UCB operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically as a regional bank holding company. Regional banks are sensitive to interest rate cycles, credit conditions, and local economic activity — all factors reflected across UCB's UQS pillar profile.

Is UCB a growth stock or value stock?

Based on its UQS profile, UCB leans toward value territory. The Valuation pillar is Attractive while the Growth pillar is Weak, suggesting the market prices the stock conservatively relative to its current earnings base rather than for high future growth expectations.

Unlock Full UCB Analysis

Sign in to unlock the detailed analysis behind the UQS Score.

  • View the exact UQS Score and all five pillar breakdowns
  • Access detailed financial metrics and trend data
  • Compare UCB side-by-side with regional bank peers
  • See risk flags and quality indicators in one dashboard
  • Get the complete analyst-grade view for Pro members
Analyze UCB in Detail →

Pro Analysis

UCB — Score History

45505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 11 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 21, 202653.376.525.040.436.496.1+0.4
May 7, 202652.975.025.040.436.495.60.0
May 3, 202652.975.025.040.436.495.9-0.1
May 1, 202653.075.025.040.436.496.4+0.3
Apr 26, 202652.775.025.039.236.495.9+0.2
Apr 23, 202652.575.025.039.236.494.9+0.1
Apr 19, 202652.475.025.038.736.494.80.0
Apr 18, 202652.475.025.038.736.494.9-0.5
Apr 12, 202652.975.025.038.736.498.1-0.3
Apr 8, 202653.275.025.038.736.4100.00.0

UCB — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

76.5/100 (25%)

United Community Banks, Inc. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

40.4/100 (20%)

United Community Banks, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRModerate

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

36.4/100 (15%)

United Community Banks, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

96.1/100 (15%)

United Community Banks, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

25/100 (25%)

United Community Banks, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for UCB.

Score Composition

Quality
76.5×25%19.1
Growth
40.4×20%8.1
Risk
36.4×15%5.5
Valuation
96.1×15%14.4
Moat
25.0×25%6.3
Total
53.3Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the UCB UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for United Community Banks, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses United Community Banks, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether United Community Banks, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.