Univest Shares Break Above 200-Day MA to $33.42; $34 Analyst Targets
Univest Corporation shares rose above their 200-day moving average of $31.10, climbing to $33.42 on volume of 159,636, while analysts at Piper Sandler, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Zacks set price targets around $34.00 after maintaining neutral or hold ratings. The company scheduled its fourth quarter 2025 earnings release for January 28 and a call for January 29, 2026.
1. Share Price Breaks Above Key Moving Average
Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania’s share price climbed past its 200-day moving average of $31.10 on Thursday, reaching an intraday high of $33.42 before settling at $33.31. Trading volume for the session totaled 159,636 shares, marking a 2.1% gain compared to the previous close. The stock’s 50-day moving average stands at $32.29, reinforcing the recent upward momentum in the context of longer-term technical trends.
2. Robust Quarterly Results and Profitability Metrics
In its fourth quarter report released February 8, Univest posted earnings per share of $0.52 on revenue of $62.30 million. The bank achieved a return on equity of 9.55% and a net profit margin of 16.94%. For the full year, analysts surveyed by MarketBeat anticipate total EPS of $2.36. The company maintains conservative leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, and liquidity ratios are balanced, with both current and quick ratios at 1.02.
3. Analyst Ratings and Dividend Profile
Equity research firms currently assign Univest an average rating of "Hold," based on one Buy recommendation and four Hold ratings. Piper Sandler opened coverage with a Neutral rating and a $34.00 target, while Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its target from $33.00 to $34.00 and affirmed a Market Perform stance. Zacks Research recently upgraded the stock to Hold, and Weiss Ratings reiterated a Buy (b) rating on December 29. The bank pays a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share (record date November 5, payment date November 19), equating to an $0.88 annualized payout and a 2.6% yield, with a payout ratio of 29.33%.
4. Institutional Ownership and Upcoming Earnings Call
Approximately 75.07% of Univest’s shares are held by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Notable recent activity includes a new $34,000 stake by the State of Alaska Department of Revenue, a $42,000 position from Russell Investments Group, and a 545.3% stake increase by Geneos Wealth Management to 2,665 shares valued at $76,000. Tower Research Capital lifted its holding by 69.6% to 3,225 shares. The company will host its fourth quarter earnings conference call on January 29 at 9:00 a.m. ET, with results published after market close on January 28.