United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ:UBFO) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ:UBFO) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 51,100 shares, a growth of 137.7% from the December 31st total of 21,500 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 25,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.0 days.

Insider Activity

In other United Security Bancshares news, SVP Robert C. Oberg, Jr. sold 4,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.81, for a total transaction of $47,088.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 18,228 shares in the company, valued at $178,816.68. This represents a 20.84 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 20.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Security Bancshares

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UBFO. Banc Funds Co. LLC grew its stake in shares of United Security Bancshares by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Banc Funds Co. LLC now owns 573,139 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $4,992,000 after purchasing an additional 13,912 shares during the last quarter. Fourthstone LLC grew its position in United Security Bancshares by 314.5% in the 3rd quarter. Fourthstone LLC now owns 171,540 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,494,000 after buying an additional 130,151 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in United Security Bancshares by 11.2% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 145,776 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,270,000 after buying an additional 14,668 shares during the period. Private Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in United Security Bancshares by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 83,044 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $716,000 after buying an additional 1,233 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Security Bancshares by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 51,540 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $514,000 after acquiring an additional 2,339 shares during the period. 30.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Security Bancshares Stock Down 0.5 %

NASDAQ UBFO traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $9.55. 17,347 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 29,229. The company has a 50 day moving average of $9.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $8.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The firm has a market cap of $165.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.15 and a beta of 0.60. United Security Bancshares has a 52-week low of $7.02 and a 52-week high of $10.49.

United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ:UBFO) last released its earnings results on Monday, January 27th. The financial services provider reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter. United Security Bancshares had a net margin of 22.58% and a return on equity of 11.54%.

United Security Bancshares Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd were given a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.03%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 2nd. United Security Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.81%.

United Security Bancshares Company Profile

United Security Bancshares operates as the bank holding company for United Security Bank, a state-chartered bank that provides a range of commercial banking services to the business and professional community, and individuals in California. The company accepts various deposit products, including personal and business checking accounts, savings accounts, interest-bearing negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, and time certificates of deposit.