Reviewing Benchmark Bankshares (OTCMKTS:BMBN) & United Bancorp (NASDAQ:UBCP)

Profitability

This table compares Benchmark Bankshares and United Bancorp’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Benchmark Bankshares	N/A	N/A	N/A
United Bancorp	18.28%	12.56%	0.96%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

3.2% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 15.4% of United Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. 14.0% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 11.7% of United Bancorp shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Benchmark Bankshares pays an annual dividend of $0.84 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.5%. United Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.71 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.4%. United Bancorp pays out 51.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. United Bancorp has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years. United Bancorp is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Benchmark Bankshares and United Bancorp”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Benchmark Bankshares	$62.25 million	1.70	$15.38 million	N/A	N/A
United Bancorp	$40.90 million	1.87	$8.95 million	$1.38	9.57

Benchmark Bankshares has higher revenue and earnings than United Bancorp.

Volatility & Risk

Benchmark Bankshares has a beta of 0.28, meaning that its stock price is 72% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, United Bancorp has a beta of 0.41, meaning that its stock price is 59% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

United Bancorp beats Benchmark Bankshares on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Benchmark Bankshares

Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for Benchmark Community Bank that provides various banking products and services in the United States. The company accepts various deposits, such as checking, saving, commercial services, and youth accounts. Its loan products include personal, mortgage, other real estate, business, auto, and student loans. The company also offers credit and debit cards; wealth management services comprising financial solutions, financial and retirement planning, and portfolio management, as well as estate, charitable giving, and trust services; and reorder checks, safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, bill pay, and internet and mobile banking services. The company was founded in 1971 and is based in Kenbridge, Virginia.

About United Bancorp

United Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Unified Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services in Ohio. The company provides range of banking and financial services, which includes accepting demand, savings, and time deposits. It also offers commercial, real estate and consumer loans. United Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Martins Ferry, Ohio.