StockNews.com Upgrades UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF) to "Hold"

StockNews.com upgraded shares of UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF - Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Wednesday.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of UMB Financial from $123.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on UMB Financial from $107.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on UMB Financial in a report on Thursday, November 21st. They set an "overweight" rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on shares of UMB Financial in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. They set a "sector perform" rating and a $130.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on shares of UMB Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $127.00 price objective for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $130.14.

UMB Financial Price Performance

UMBF traded down $2.40 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $117.90. 5,642,666 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 526,547. UMB Financial has a one year low of $76.00 and a one year high of $129.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.11 and a beta of 0.82. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $118.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $110.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The bank reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.25 by $0.24. UMB Financial had a return on equity of 13.90% and a net margin of 15.76%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.29 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that UMB Financial will post 9.4 EPS for the current year.

UMB Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. UMB Financial's payout ratio is 17.80%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other UMB Financial news, CEO J Mariner Kemper sold 24,300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.95, for a total transaction of $3,036,285.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,552,304 shares in the company, valued at approximately $193,960,384.80. This trade represents a 1.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Robert Brian Beaird sold 854 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.38, for a total transaction of $105,366.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 5,828 shares of the company's stock, valued at $719,058.64. This trade represents a 12.78 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 8.85% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UMB Financial

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UMB Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of UMB Financial by 31.0% during the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 431 shares of the bank's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. USA Financial Formulas raised its position in UMB Financial by 124.7% in the 4th quarter. USA Financial Formulas now owns 483 shares of the bank's stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of UMB Financial in the third quarter worth $83,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in UMB Financial during the 4th quarter worth about $96,000. 87.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About UMB Financial

UMB Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company that provides banking services and asset servicing in the United States and internationally. The Commercial Banking segment provides commercial loans and credit card; commercial real estate financing; letters of credit; loan syndication, and consultative service; various business solutions including asset-based lending, mezzanine debt, and minority equity investment; and treasury management service, such as depository service, account reconciliation, cash management tool, accounts payable and receivable solution, electronic fund transfer and automated payment, controlled disbursement, lockbox service, and remote deposit capture service.