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United Bankshares Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record second-quarter earnings reported: The company described second-quarter 2026 earnings of $131.4 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, as a record. Source
  • Acquired loan accretion income declined: Accretion income fell $2.5 million from the first quarter, which the company said reduced the spread and margin by about 4 basis points. Source
  • Spread widened on lower funding costs: The spread rose 1 basis point on a 3 basis point drop in average cost of funds, partly offset by a 2 basis point drop in yield on earning assets. Source
  • Non-performing loans higher than March: Non-performing loans were $110.6 million at June 30, 2026, or 0.44% of loans, up from $102.8 million, or 0.41%, at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Investment gains from sale and VISA: Gains included a $5.9 million gain on sale of an unaffiliated company, a $5.7 million VISA share exchange gain and $1.0 million of unrealized equity gains. Source
  • Expense rose slightly from first quarter: Noninterest expense increased by $1.9 million from the first quarter, with higher employee compensation partly offset by a lower reserve expense for unfunded commitments. Source

“We delivered record results in the second quarter, and our consistent and disciplined approach to managing our Company’s affairs continues to pay dividends”

Richard M. Adams, Jr., United’s Chief Executive Officer

Earnings and returns

  • Record second-quarter earnings reported: The company described second-quarter 2026 earnings of $131.4 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, as a record. Source
  • First-half earnings above prior year: First-half 2026 earnings were $255.6 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, compared with $205.0 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, in the first half of 2025. Source
  • Annualized returns for the quarter: Annualized returns on average assets, average shareholders’ equity and average tangible common equity were 1.56%, 9.53% and 15.15%, the last a non-GAAP measure. Source

Net interest income and spread

  • Acquired loan accretion income declined: Accretion income fell $2.5 million from the first quarter, which the company said reduced the spread and margin by about 4 basis points. Source
  • Spread widened on lower funding costs: The spread rose 1 basis point on a 3 basis point drop in average cost of funds, partly offset by a 2 basis point drop in yield on earning assets. Source
  • Securities yields rose on purchases: Yield on investment securities rose 19 basis points, which the company tied to strategic purchases of higher-yielding securities through 2026. Source
  • Loan yield lower than prior year: Yield on average net loans and loans held for sale was 27 basis points lower than in the second quarter of 2025. Source

“We look forward to continued growth in the second half of the year.”

Richard M. Adams, Jr., United’s Chief Executive Officer

Credit quality and reserves

  • First-quarter allowance build noted: The first-quarter provision included $5.7 million of net charge-offs and a $2.1 million allowance increase; the second-quarter provision was lower than the first. Source
  • Allowance ratio unchanged at 1.20%: The allowance for loan and lease losses was $299.5 million at June 30, 2026, or 1.20% of loans and leases, the same ratio as at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Non-performing loans higher than March: Non-performing loans were $110.6 million at June 30, 2026, or 0.44% of loans, up from $102.8 million, or 0.41%, at March 31, 2026. Source

Noninterest income and investment gains

  • Noninterest income rose 13% sequentially: The increase was driven mainly by other noninterest income, which reflected higher market values of investments tied to postretirement benefit plans. Source
  • Investment gains from sale and VISA: Gains included a $5.9 million gain on sale of an unaffiliated company, a $5.7 million VISA share exchange gain and $1.0 million of unrealized equity gains. Source
  • Available-for-sale securities loss offset gains: The company recorded a $9.7 million loss on the sale of $81.0 million of available-for-sale securities, which partly offset the investment gains. Source
  • Brokerage fees grew with volume: Brokerage fees rose from the prior year, which the company attributed to higher volume from business growth. Source

Noninterest expense

  • Expense rose slightly from first quarter: Noninterest expense increased by $1.9 million from the first quarter, with higher employee compensation partly offset by a lower reserve expense for unfunded commitments. Source
  • Compensation rose on timing and incentives: Employee compensation increased with the timing of annual salary increases, stock-based compensation and employee incentives. Source
  • Unfunded-commitment reserve expense fell: The reserve expense for unfunded loan commitments declined because commitments grew less in the second quarter than in the first. Source
  • Benefit costs higher year over year: Employee benefits rose from the second quarter of 2025, which the company attributed to higher postretirement benefit costs. Source
  • Effective tax rate lower sequentially: The effective tax rate was 20.0% in the second quarter, compared with 20.4% in the first quarter, and income tax expense was $32.8 million. Source

Deposits and loans

  • Noninterest-bearing deposits grew: Noninterest-bearing deposits were $6,731,733 thousand at June 30, 2026, up from $6,409,918 thousand at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Interest-bearing deposits declined sequentially: Interest-bearing deposits were $20,439,014 thousand at June 30, 2026, against $20,710,965 thousand at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Average interest-bearing deposits up year over year: Average interest-bearing deposits were $900.5 million, or 5%, higher than in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Company remains well-capitalized: The company said it continues to be well-capitalized under regulatory guidelines. Source
  • Second-quarter share repurchases: About 1.5 million shares were repurchased in the second quarter under a previously announced plan, at an average price of $43.93. Source
  • First-half share repurchases: About 3.2 million shares were repurchased in the first half of 2026 under the previously announced plan, at an average price of $41.78. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.38 per share: Cash dividends declared were $0.38 per share, unchanged from the first quarter and up from $0.37 in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Costs, staffing and prior-year merger

  • Full-time equivalent staff count: Full-time equivalent employees were 2,754 at June 30, 2026, up from 2,749 at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Franchise of over 240 offices: United Bank operates over 240 offices across nine states and Washington, D.C.; the company reported about $34 billion of consolidated assets. Source
  • Prior-year Piedmont merger costs: Second-quarter 2025 other noninterest expense included $961 thousand of merger costs tied to the Piedmont acquisition, completed January 10, 2025. Source
  • Data processing lower on contract changes: Data processing expense fell in the first half of 2026, which the company attributed to renegotiated technology contracts. Source

Book value and share count

  • Closing share price rose: The closing market price was $45.83 at the quarter's end, compared with $41.42 at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Tangible book value per share rose: Tangible book value per share was $25.29 at June 30, 2026, up from $24.84 at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares outstanding were 136,942,149 at June 30, 2026, down from 138,431,009 at March 31, 2026, net of treasury shares. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 July 2026

  • Growth expected in second half: Management said it looks forward to continued growth in the second half of 2026. Source
  • VISA shares eligible for sale in Q3: Part of the VISA share exchange gain relates to shares that are eligible to be sold in the third quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.81%
Net interest income Source$285.3 million
Loans Source$970.6 million increase, 4% year over year
Deposits and deposit costs Sourcerate paid down 38 basis points year over year
Provision for credit losses Source$5.0 million
Net charge-offs Source$5.1 million, 0.08% annualized
Nonperforming assets Source$120.9 million
CET1 ratio Source13.3%
Efficiency ratio Source47.78%

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.