Valley Region (which is our traditional market), and nicely compliment our recent market expansion in Powhatan Point, Ohio, which is across the Ohio River from this new and exciting market. Even with the high level of growth that we experienced over the course of the past twelve months, we continued to maintain our overall profitability. With our record earnings in the first six months of 2019, our Company had a return on equity (ROE) of 11.4% and a return on assets (ROA) of 1.04% for the six months ended, June 30, 2019. We have stated for many quarters that our goal is to profitably grow our Company. We are extremely delighted that we are presently accomplishing this.”
Everson concluded, “Our primary foci are rewarding our shareholders by paying a very solid cash dividend while driving their shareholder value in our Company. In the first and second quarter of this year, we increased our cash dividend payout by $0.0025 per quarter and are currently paying $0.1350 which, on a forward basis, produces a dividend yield of 4.70% based on our closing price as of the most recent quarter end. Regarding our present market valuation, on a forward basis we are currently trading at a price to earnings multiple of 10.0 times. With our market sector trading more in the range of 13 times at present, we are highly optimistic that we will see a higher market valuation in future periods…assuming that we continue to drive our earnings at the levels we have seen and currently project. Overall, we are extremely pleased with the direction that we are going and the results that we are producing. We continue to be highly optimistic about our future potential and look forward to realizing this upside potential in future periods!”
United Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Martins Ferry, Ohio and has total assets of $648.6 million and total shareholder’s equity of $57.0 million as of June 30, 2019. Through its single bank charter, Unified Bank, the Company has nineteen banking offices that serve the Ohio Counties of Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas. The Company also operates a Loan Production Office in Wheeling, WV. United Bancorp, Inc. trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol UBCP, Cusip #909911109.
Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond the Company’s control), may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of these terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements, due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset/liability management, changes in the financial and securities markets, including changes with respect to the market value of our financial assets, and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or carry forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.