Management demonstrated disciplined capital allocation in 2026Q1 by returning $67.7 million to shareholders while utilizing $252.1 million in securities sales to manage liquidity.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 405.95M | 435.3M | 349.73M | 293.97M | 607.31M | 359.32M | 158.68M | 153.93M | 270.01M | 207.96M | 139.91M | 113.43M | 99.28M | 191.65M | 183.08M | 151.88M | 123.39M | 139.56M | 121.31M | 105.41M | 50.65M | 104.34M | 34.01M | 74.03M | 30.06M | 24.99M | 19.35M | 27.36M | 11.24M | 13.99M | 17.37M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 1431.38% | 24.47% | 18.97% | -51.59% | 69.02% | 126.44% | 3.08% | -42.99% | 29.83% | 48.64% | 23.35% | 14.25% | -48.2% | 4.68% | 20.54% | 23.09% | -11.59% | 15.04% | 15.08% | 108.13% | -51.46% | 206.83% | -54.06% | 146.28% | 20.29% | 29.12% | -29.26% | 143.44% | -19.65% | -19.47% | - |
| Net Income | 341.03M | 328.1M | 250.92M | 187.54M | 277.47M | 269.8M | 164.09M | 185.72M | 166.11M | 67.82M | 100.66M | 71.58M | 67.62M | 273.14M | 33.86M | -226.75M | -502.34M | -228.33M | -63.45M | 57.99M | 68.81M | 56.74M | 46.59M | 38.12M | 32.78M | 27.23M | 14.52M | 16.1M | 12.15M | 10.73M | 8.2M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 54.32M | 45.95M | 40.93M | 44.96M | 46.7M | -2.06M | -8.59M | 23.95M | 30.97M | 27.49M | 29.97M | 22.65M | 19.95M | 26.39M | 32.56M | 21.08M | 16.39M | 14.55M | 14.85M | 13.95M | 14.82M | 15.8M | 15.36M | 14.57M | 8.56M | 6.3M | 5.45M | 5.78M | 2.85M | 2.45M | 2.18M |
| Deferred Taxes | 16.03M | 10.14M | 7.2M | 6.39M | 10.92M | 20.79M | 2.67M | 14.91M | 32.63M | 99.56M | 59.73M | 38.3M | 38.23M | -241.66M | 0 | 0 | 69.25M | -49.99M | -13.57M | -14.23M | -3.51M | -3.06M | -1.05M | -1.05M | -848K | -594K | -3.79M | -1.86M | -766K | -404K | 163K |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 97.41M | 110.72M | 79.86M | 133.62M | 57.05M | -48.9M | 74.27M | 7.3M | 879K | -6.74M | -11.73M | 1.13M | 4.76M | 70.02M | 70.98M | 319.36M | 527M | 408.82M | 197.83M | 58.03M | 17.57M | 26.95M | -19.17M | 23.54M | -1.05M | -4.92M | 3.95M | 2.15M | -2.85M | 4.29M | 6.75M |
| Working Capital Changes | -115.21M | -71.01M | -39.98M | -87.47M | 206.46M | 113.14M | -81.64M | -87.31M | 33.36M | 13.99M | -43.21M | -24.63M | -35.58M | 60.71M | 43.71M | 36.04M | 11.79M | -9.2M | -18.21M | -10.32M | -47.05M | 7.91M | -7.73M | -1.15M | -9.38M | -3.03M | -770K | 5.18M | -142K | -3.08M | 83K |
| Cash from Investing | 62.61M | 51.57M | -991.04M | -163.29M | -2.02B | -1.81B | -1.58B | 163.22M | -359.48M | -45.51M | -732.33M | -400.44M | -234.88M | -482.79M | -102.01M | -363.97M | 373.29M | 403.94M | -173.07M | -357.86M | -732.95M | -814.01M | -614.55M | -317.82M | -474.89M | -104.97M | -171.47M | -507.6M | -321.37M | -252.19M | -133.29M |
| Purchase of Investments | -511.76M | -526.84M | -2.06B | -1B | -2.06B | -3.41B | -1.63B | -353.87M | -578.32M | -973.59M | -717M | -859.35M | -603.56M | -826.74M | -1.17B | -1.33B | -928.03M | -884.82M | -820.66M | -904.16M | -367.08M | -382.75M | -612.69M | -387.04M | -333.09M | -129.2M | -310.94M | -616.03M | -446M | -315.08M | -201.11M |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 1.45B | 1.46B | 1B | 1.78B | 1.27B | 1.34B | 933.73M | 752.24M | 574M | 1B | 660.67M | 714.61M | 708.29M | 580.78M | 1.18B | 698.26M | 958.06M | 1.02B | 627.35M | 725.43M | 301.41M | 256.54M | 425.96M | 317.82M | 248.09M | 188.77M | 149.09M | 120.75M | 126.8M | 72.58M | 68.27M |
| Net Investment Activity | 934.9M | 935M | -1.05B | 780.46M | -796.98M | -2.07B | -695.93M | 398.37M | -4.32M | 29.76M | -56.33M | -144.74M | 104.74M | -245.96M | 15.21M | -630.26M | 30.03M | 137.22M | -193.31M | -178.73M | -65.68M | -126.21M | -186.73M | -69.21M | -85M | 59.57M | -161.85M | -495.28M | -319.19M | -242.49M | -132.84M |
| Acquisitions | 41.25M | 41.25M | 8.59M | 113.95M | 35.24M | 103.06M | 195.7M | -19.55M | -56.8M | 53.68M | 1.91M | 35.5M | -31.26M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.84M | 63.62M | 0 | -4.35M | 73.75M | 0 | 8.86M | 83.11M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | -883.35M | -897.1M | 101.13M | -985.21M | -1.21B | 185.93M | -1.06B | -194.66M | -280.74M | -106.76M | -660.53M | -275.32M | -303.3M | -228.69M | -113.11M | 273.5M | 347.55M | 217.98M | 31.64M | -140.72M | -715.14M | -670.37M | -421.54M | -317.33M | -376.9M | -156.57M | -2.46M | -2.49M | 11.21M | 0 | 2.65M |
| Cash from Financing | -542.71M | -541.57M | 157.31M | 226.34M | -258.78M | 2.16B | 2.52B | -129.21M | 102.46M | -65.53M | 569.4M | 334.73M | 99.36M | 268.89M | -208.33M | -58.95M | -223.59M | -660.56M | 325.56M | 300.79M | 711.02M | 717.39M | 555.19M | 297.64M | 428.15M | 100.72M | 120.55M | 532.05M | 297M | 254.37M | 134.53M |
| Dividends Paid | -123.2M | -123.24M | -118.61M | -111.72M | -93.76M | -73.79M | -62.45M | -53.04M | -41.63M | -26.21M | -15.89M | -14.87M | -3.02M | -11.11M | -10.7M | -10.24M | -9.01M | -8.51M | -12.73M | -16.05M | -12.51M | -10.88M | -8.38M | -6.61M | -5.19M | -4.36M | -3.18M | -1.42M | -1.02M | -765K | -501K |
| Share Repurchases | -172.9M | -135.81M | 0 | -7.15M | 0 | -15.1M | -20.78M | -14.71M | -2M | -1.7M | -24.84M | -1.48M | 0 | -75.22M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -46.12M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.21M | 0 | 0 | 361.56M | 0 | 213.25M | 3.39M | 0 | 5.9M | 43.47M | 1.26M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.8M | 216K | 118K | 6.48M | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -172.9M | -135.81M | 0 | -7.15M | 0 | -15.1M | -20.78M | -14.71M | -2M | -1.7M | -24.84M | -1.48M | 12.21M | -75.22M | 0 | 361.56M | 0 | 213.25M | 3.39M | -46.12M | 5.9M | 43.47M | 1.26M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.8M | 216K | 118K | 6.48M | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K |
| Other Financing | -111.61M | -37.52M | 149.47M | 1.34B | -873.96M | 2.35B | 2.53B | 153.81M | 728.66M | 287.52M | 365.9M | 196.18M | 125.48M | 269.55M | -144.95M | -366.49M | -153.07M | -691.93M | 440.64M | -264.78M | 935.06M | 797.08M | 408.1M | 7.96M | 268.74M | 54.86M | 0 | 194K | 105.86M | 52.3M | 53.28M |
| Net Change in Cash | 49.97M | 69.42M | -484M | 357.02M | -1.67B | 709.89M | 1.09B | 187.94M | 12.99M | 96.93M | -23.02M | 47.71M | -36.24M | -22.25M | -127.27M | -271.04M | 273.09M | -117.05M | 273.8M | 48.34M | 28.71M | 7.73M | -25.35M | 53.85M | -16.68M | 20.73M | -31.57M | 51.81M | -13.13M | 16.16M | 18.6M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 124.12M | 124.12M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 395.75M | 519.87M | 1B | 646.85M | 2.32B | 1.61B | 515.21M | 327.26M | 314.27M | 217.35M | 240.36M | 192.66M | 228.9M | 251.15M | 378.42M | 649.46M | 376.37M | 493.42M | 219.62M | 171.28M | 142.57M | 134.84M | 160.19M | 106.34M | 123.03M | 102.29M | 133.86M | 82.05M | 68.83M | 52.67M | 31.99M |
| Cash at End | 493.14M | 589.29M | 519.87M | 1B | 646.85M | 2.32B | 1.61B | 515.21M | 327.26M | 314.27M | 217.35M | 240.36M | 192.66M | 228.9M | 251.15M | 378.42M | 649.46M | 376.37M | 493.42M | 219.62M | 171.28M | 142.57M | 134.84M | 160.19M | 106.34M | 123.03M | 102.29M | 133.86M | 55.7M | 68.83M | 50.59M |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59.97M | 85.97M | 56.83M | 34.66M | 32.14M | 21.6M | 25.67M | 26.14M | 42.11M | 68.07M | 112.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36.54M | 33.78M | 7.88M | 6.51M | 3.95M | 4.2M | 3.05M | 2.36M | 0 | 138K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 375.76M | 407.72M | 302.69M | 221.49M | 564.6M | 332.84M | 140.22M | 132.99M | 252.39M | 185.78M | 122.54M | 102.89M | 94.22M | 183.51M | 178.96M | 144.67M | 116.26M | 124.69M | 109.92M | 71.35M | 24.77M | 86.91M | 18.86M | 59.65M | 17.07M | 17.01M | 12.19M | 17.53M | -2.15M | 4.29M | 14.27M |
| FCF Growth % | 16.73% | 34.7% | 36.66% | -60.77% | 69.63% | 137.37% | 5.44% | -47.31% | 35.85% | 51.61% | 19.09% | 9.2% | -48.65% | 2.54% | 23.7% | 24.44% | -6.76% | 13.44% | 54.05% | 188.11% | -71.51% | 360.76% | -68.38% | 249.5% | 0.34% | 39.56% | -30.47% | 916.82% | -150.08% | -69.97% | - |
CRE Concentration and Funding
According to recent SEC filings, UCB generated $84.3 million in net income during 2026Q1, maintaining a consistent earnings profile that supports its regulatory capital buffers despite the ongoing pressures of a higher-for-longer interest rate environment and the associated costs of its recent geographic expansion strategy.
The bank's ability to consistently generate positive net income provides a necessary cushion for its capital ratios, which are essential given the bank's acquisitive growth history. Investors should monitor whether this organic capital generation remains sufficient to fund future expansion without necessitating dilutive equity issuance.
As reported in financial statements, UCB's investment activity shows a recurring pattern of portfolio rotation, with $252.1 million in sales during 2026Q1, suggesting that management is actively utilizing the securities book to manage liquidity and offset volatility in core net interest income streams.
The frequent turnover of the investment portfolio indicates a proactive approach to duration management and yield optimization. This strategy appears to be a vital lever for maintaining net interest margin stability, though it introduces non-cash volatility into the income statement that requires careful adjustment by analysts.
Based on reported figures, UCB returned $67.7 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in 2026Q1, reflecting a balanced approach that prioritizes consistent dividend payouts while utilizing share repurchases as a flexible tool to manage excess capital during periods of relative earnings strength.
The consistency of the dividend payout suggests management's confidence in the bank's long-term earnings power. However, the variability in buyback activity warrants further investigation, as it may indicate that management is prioritizing capital preservation for potential future acquisitions or regulatory compliance over aggressive share count reduction.
As indicated by the data, the bank recorded a $10.9 million provision for loan losses in 2026Q1, which represents a measured reduction from the $15.4 million peak in 2025Q1, suggesting that management perceives a stabilization in credit risk despite the bank's significant commercial real estate exposure.
The trend in provisioning appears to reflect a cautious, forward-looking stance under the CECL accounting framework. While the reduction in provisions is a positive signal, investors should monitor whether this reflects actual improvements in asset quality or merely a recalibration of management's economic forecasts for the Southeast region.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying UCB stock.
United Community Banks, Inc. (UCB) generated $435.3M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
United Community Banks, Inc. (UCB) generated $407.7M in free cash flow in 2025. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
United Community Banks, Inc. (UCB) spent $27.6M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2025, United Community Banks, Inc. (UCB) returned $123.2M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $135.8M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.