California BanCorp (NASDAQ:CALB – Get Free Report) and United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
52.9% of California BanCorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 71.6% of United Bankshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 10.8% of California BanCorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.4% of United Bankshares shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares California BanCorp and United Bankshares’ revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| California BanCorp | $83.31 million | 1.91 | $21.11 million | $2.86 | 6.62 |
| United Bankshares | $1.16 billion | 3.59 | $379.63 million | $2.91 | 10.56 |
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current recommendations for California BanCorp and United Bankshares, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| California BanCorp | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 |
| United Bankshares | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2.40 |
California BanCorp currently has a consensus target price of $25.00, suggesting a potential upside of 32.00%. United Bankshares has a consensus target price of $37.00, suggesting a potential upside of 20.36%. Given California BanCorp’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe California BanCorp is more favorable than United Bankshares.
Risk and Volatility
California BanCorp has a beta of 1.03, indicating that its stock price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, United Bankshares has a beta of 1.03, indicating that its stock price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares California BanCorp and United Bankshares’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| California BanCorp | 22.50% | 13.78% | 1.18% |
| United Bankshares | 28.52% | 8.64% | 1.33% |
Summary
United Bankshares beats California BanCorp on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About California BanCorp
California BanCorp operates as the bank holding company for California Bank of Commerce that provides commercial banking services in California. It accepts various deposit products, including commercial checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company offers asset-based lending loans; standby letters of credit; construction and development loans; real estate loans, such as commercial real estate loans and other loans; small business administration (SBA) loans, including SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans; consumer loans, such as secured and unsecured installment loans, and revolving lines of credit; and commercial and industrial loans, including term loans, working capital, accounts receivable and inventory financing, and other business loans to the dental and veterinary industries, contractors, and emerging companies. In addition, it provides foreign exchange, treasury and cash management, and online and mobile banking services. California BanCorp was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Oakland, California.
About United Bankshares
United Bankshares, Inc., a financial holding company, primarily provides commercial and retail banking products and services in the United States. It operates through two segments, Community Banking and Mortgage Banking. The company accepts checking, savings, and time and money market accounts; individual retirement accounts; and demand deposits, statement and special savings, NOW accounts, and interest-bearing checking accounts. Its loan products include commercial loans and leases; construction and real estate loans; personal, student, credit card, commercial, and floor plan loans; and home equity loans. In addition, the company provides credit cards; safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, and other banking products and services; investment and security services; services to correspondent banks, including buying and selling federal funds; automated teller machine services; and internet and telephone banking services. Further, it offers community banking services, such as asset management, real property title insurance, financial planning, mortgage banking, and brokerage services. United Bankshares, Inc. was incorporated in 1982 and is headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.
Receive News & Ratings for California BanCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for California BanCorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
