Dividend Champions Spotlight: United Bankshares’ (UBSI) Record of Reliability

Core Insights - United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI) is recognized as one of the Best Dividend Stocks for a Dividend Champions List, highlighting its reliability in dividend payments [1] Company Overview - United Bankshares has evolved into a significant regional bank holding company, engaging in traditional banking activities such as loans in commercial, real estate, and consumer markets, alongside deposits, trust services, brokerage, and digital banking [2] - The company has expanded through acquisitions, having acquired over thirty banks, with the latest being Piedmont Bancorp in early 2025 and Community Bankers Trust in late 2021, which integrated its Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets into a cohesive network [2] Operational Challenges - A primary challenge for United Bankshares is ensuring the smooth operation of its acquired banks under a unified management structure. A substantial portion of its lending is linked to commercial real estate and construction, which poses risks during economic downturns [3] - Management is focusing on the integration of acquisitions and closely monitoring the loan portfolio, as nearly half of it is exposed to commercial real estate and construction sectors [3] Dividend Performance - United Bankshares has a strong dividend history, having increased its dividends for 51 consecutive years, currently offering a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share [4] - As of October 2, the stock has a dividend yield of 4.04%, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors [4]