Atlantic Union Bankshares, Sandy Spring Bancorp get approval to complete merger
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2025
0mins
Should l Buy AUB?
Source: Business Insider
Merger Announcement: Atlantic Union Bankshares and Sandy Spring Bancorp have received regulatory approvals to complete their all-stock merger, with Sandy Spring Bank merging into Atlantic Union Bank afterward.
Market Insights: The news highlights investment opportunities and stock performance analysis through platforms like TipRanks, emphasizing the importance of staying informed in the financial market.
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Analyst Views on AUB
Wall Street analysts forecast AUB stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AUB is 42.50 USD with a low forecast of 38.00 USD and a high forecast of 45.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 41.270
Low
38.00
Averages
42.50
High
45.00
Current: 41.270
Low
38.00
Averages
42.50
High
45.00
About AUB
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation is the holding company for Atlantic Union Bank (the Bank), which provides banking and related financial products and services to consumers and businesses. The Bank has branches and ATMs located in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. It operates through two segments: Wholesale Banking and Consumer Banking. Its Wholesale Banking segment provides loan, leasing, and deposit services, as well as treasury management and capital market services to wholesale customers primarily throughout Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. These customers include commercial and industrial customers. This segment also includes its equipment finance subsidiary and its wealth management business. Its Consumer Banking segment provides loan and deposit services to consumers and small businesses throughout Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Consumer Banking includes the home loan division and investment management, and advisory services businesses.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Significant Loan Growth: Atlantic Union Bankshares achieved an annualized loan growth of 6.3% in Q4 2025, ending the year with $27.8 billion in loans, indicating strong market demand and a robust loan pipeline that is expected to support continued growth into 2026.
- Increased Net Interest Income: The bank reported tax-equivalent net interest income of $334.8 million for the fourth quarter, an increase of $11.2 million from the previous quarter, primarily driven by reduced interest expenses and increased loan income, further enhancing the company's profitability.
- Merger Integration Progress: Management indicated that merger-related expenses are expected to remain modest in Q1, with anticipated declines in noise associated with the merger, reflecting positive progress in integrating the Sandy Spring acquisition.
- Optimistic 2026 Outlook: The company projects loan balances to range between $29 billion and $30 billion and deposit balances between $31.5 billion and $32.5 billion for 2026, demonstrating management's confidence in future financial performance and market opportunities.
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- Net Income Growth: Atlantic Union Bankshares reported a net income of $109 million for Q4, a 98% increase from $54.82 million last year, indicating a significant enhancement in profitability.
- Earnings Per Share Rise: EPS increased from $0.60 to $0.77, despite analysts' expectations of $1.02, highlighting challenges in cost control and revenue growth.
- Surge in Interest Income: Net interest income skyrocketed from $183.25 million to $330.17 million, reflecting strong loan demand and an improved interest rate environment, further bolstering the company's financial stability.
- Increase in Loans and Deposits: Loans held for investment rose from $18.47 billion to $27.80 billion, while deposits increased from $20.40 billion to $30.47 billion, demonstrating enhanced customer trust and market share expansion.
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- Significant Profit Growth: Atlantic Union Bankshares reported a fourth-quarter profit of $108.99 million, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77, marking a substantial increase from last year's $54.81 million and $0.60 EPS, indicating a notable improvement in profitability.
- Strong Adjusted Earnings: Excluding special items, the bank's adjusted earnings reached $138.39 million, or $0.97 per share, reflecting robust core business performance that enhances investor confidence.
- Revenue Surge: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter rose by 80.2% to $330.16 million, up from $183.24 million last year, showcasing strong market demand and successful business expansion.
- Positive Market Outlook: This significant growth in profit and revenue not only improves the company's financial health but may also attract more investor attention, potentially driving stock prices higher.
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- Earnings Beat: Atlantic Union Bank reported a Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.97, exceeding estimates by $0.11, which reflects strong profitability and boosts investor confidence in the bank's financial health.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The bank's revenue reached $387.1 million in Q4, marking a 77.2% year-over-year increase and surpassing expectations by $8.15 million, indicating robust demand for loans and financial services that drive overall performance.
- Increase in Allowance for Loan Losses: As of December 31, 2025, the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) stood at $295.1 million, up $1.3 million from the previous quarter, demonstrating proactive credit risk management amid loan growth.
- Reserve for Unfunded Commitments: The reserve for unfunded commitments (RUC) was $26.2 million, reflecting the bank's anticipation of future credit demand, which enhances its competitive edge and risk management capabilities in the market.
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- PG Earnings Forecast: Procter & Gamble anticipates an EPS of $1.87 for Q4 2025, reflecting a 0.53% decrease year-over-year, indicating increased market pressure that may affect future growth strategies.
- GE Performance Growth: General Electric expects an EPS of $1.44, representing a 9.09% increase compared to last year, having beaten analyst expectations for four consecutive quarters, showcasing its strong performance and leadership in the aerospace sector.
- ABT Profit Increase: Abbott Laboratories forecasts an EPS of $1.50, up 11.94% year-over-year, indicating sustained growth potential in the medical products market, which enhances investor confidence.
- FCX Earnings Decline: Freeport-McMoRan projects an EPS of $0.28, down 9.68% from the previous year, reflecting challenges in the mining industry that may impact its future investment decisions.
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- Credit Facility Expansion: SolaREIT has expanded its revolving credit facility to $80 million through support from Atlantic Union Bank and EagleBank, marking the fourth increase in three years and reflecting strong market confidence in its business model.
- Financing Solutions: This credit facility provides SolaREIT with additional capital to meet the demands of solar and battery storage developers, helping them maximize the value of their real estate assets while advancing clean energy deployment.
- Strong Market Demand: Since its inception, SolaREIT has provided real estate financing for nearly $5 billion in projects, indicating robust market demand and execution capabilities in solar and storage land financing.
- Deepening Partnerships: The CEO of SolaREIT noted that the expanded credit facility not only strengthens partnerships with Atlantic Union Bank and EagleBank but also provides developers with flexible and reliable financing solutions to accelerate project implementation.
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