Institutional Investors Lose 5-6% in United Bankshares, Arista Networks Amid Market Declines

Institutional investors hold significant stakes in both United Bankshares and Arista Networks, with 71% and 70% ownership respectively, indicating that these groups have substantial influence over the companies' stock prices. United Bankshares has experienced a market cap decline to $5.0 billion, though a 14% one-year gain has mitigated some losses for institutional shareholders. Arista Networks shows mixed investor sentiment with options trading revealing both bullish and bearish positions, while its stock price recently rallied by nearly 3% amid broader market gains. Despite the recent rally, Arista Networks is still trading significantly below its 52-week high, and its shares have underperformed the Zacks Internet-Software industry over the past month. Earnings projections for Arista Networks remain stable, with expected growth of 25% for the current quarter and 12.8% for the fiscal year, which supports the stock’s near-term valuation. However, both companies face risks associated with institutional investors potentially adjusting their positions simultaneously, which could lead to rapid share price declines.