How did UBSI's Q4 2024 earnings surprise impact investor sentiment?

**United Bankshares' (UBSI) Q4 2024 earnings surprise had a positive impact on investor sentiment**, as evidenced by the following points:

1. **Earnings Surprise**: UBSI reported an EPS surprise of $0.01 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. This positive surprise indicates that the bank's performance for the period was better than what investors might have anticipated, based on the consensus estimates.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Revenue Surprise|Revenue Surprise YoY|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|UBSI|UBSI.O|United Bankshares|2024 Q1|-2929000|61.99065663119647|185|
|UBSI|UBSI.O|United Bankshares|2024 Q2|388000|-49.544863459037714|185|
|UBSI|UBSI.O|United Bankshares|2024 Q3|1808000|-69.42847480554616|185|
|UBSI|UBSI.O|United Bankshares|2024 Q4|-814000|-119.9265605875153|185|

2. **Analyst Forecasts**: Prior to the earnings release, analysts had forecasted a decline in earnings and lower revenues for the quarter ended September 2024. However, UBSI's actual performance, particularly the EPS of $0.70, which was 4.2% higher than expected, suggests that the bank managed to surpass market expectations, leading to a positive sentiment among investors.
3. **Market Reaction**: The market's reaction to the earnings report was positive, as reflected by the fact that UBSI's stock price did not decline as would be expected post-earnings, but instead remained stable at $31.65. This stability in stock price following the earnings release is often interpreted as a sign of investor confidence in the bank's performance.
4. **Future Outlook**: The positive earnings surprise could lead to increased optimism about UBSI's future performance. Analysts have adjusted their estimates upwards, with DA Davidson forecasting a higher EPS of $2.74 for FY2024. This upward revision in estimates can bolster investor confidence, as it suggests that the bank's performance is likely to improve in the coming quarters.

In conclusion, UBSI's Q4 2024 earnings surprise, coupled with the bank's ability to surpass analyst expectations, has likely contributed to a positive sentiment among investors. This is reflected in the stability of the stock price following the earnings release and the optimistic outlook provided by analysts.