United Bankshares breezes past estimates as Piedmont deal fuels record results

United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) reported a record-breaking close to 2025, with fourth-quarter profits exceeding Wall Street expectations as the lender reaped the benefits of its strategic push into Georgia.

The Charleston, West Virginia-based bank posted net income of $128.8 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, for the final three months of the year.

The result cleared the $0.86 consensus estimate from analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research.

Revenue net of interest expense grew to $319.2 million, also surpassing Street forecasts.

The bank’s performance was anchored by a robust net interest margin (NIM), which climbed to 3.83%, a 34-basis-point improvement over the same period in 2024.

This expansion was fueled by higher yields on its loan portfolio—which grew to $24.8 billion—and the successful onboarding of Piedmont Bancorp, an acquisition that closed in early 2025 and marked United’s entry into the high-growth Atlanta market.

"Our financial performance in 2025 was among the very best in our company's long history," stated CEO Richard M. Adams, Jr.

"We delivered record earnings, resilient credit quality, and robust capital."

Indeed, asset quality remained a pillar of strength.

Non-performing loans dropped to $101.5 million, or 0.41% of total loans, down from 0.48% at the end of the third quarter.

The bank also maintained a high allowance for credit losses at 1.20% of loans.

Meanwhile, capital management remained a priority, as the company completed its 52nd consecutive year of dividend increases—a milestone matched by only one other major U.S. banking institution.

During the quarter, United repurchased 1.3 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $36.49, bringing total 2025 buybacks to 3.6 million shares.

For the full year, United reported record net income of $464.6 million, or $3.27 per share, on total revenue of $1.24 billion.