Analysts Offer Predictions for Hancock Whitney Q1 Earnings

Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC) – Research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for shares of Hancock Whitney in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, February 11th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will earn $1.39 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.21. The consensus estimate for Hancock Whitney’s current full-year earnings is $5.43 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hancock Whitney’s FY2025 earnings at $5.70 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $1.31 EPS.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Hancock Whitney from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $74.00 price objective (up previously from $68.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $72.00 target price (up from $64.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Hancock Whitney from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $62.56.

Hancock Whitney Price Performance

Shares of HWC opened at $59.93 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $57.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.59. The company has a market capitalization of $5.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.35 and a beta of 1.27. Hancock Whitney has a fifty-two week low of $41.56 and a fifty-two week high of $62.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79.

Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 21st. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.12. Hancock Whitney had a net margin of 22.40% and a return on equity of 11.56%. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.26 EPS.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Hancock Whitney in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Grove Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Hancock Whitney in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Hancock Whitney in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. GeoWealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Hancock Whitney during the 4th quarter worth $65,000. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hancock Whitney during the third quarter worth $72,000. 81.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Hancock Whitney Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. This is an increase from Hancock Whitney’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 5th. Hancock Whitney’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.30%.

About Hancock Whitney

Hancock Whitney Corporation operates as the financial holding company for Hancock Whitney Bank that provides traditional and online banking services to commercial, small business, and retail customers. It offers various transaction and savings deposit products consisting of brokered deposits, time deposits, and money market accounts; treasury management services, secured and unsecured loan products including revolving credit facilities, and letters of credit and similar financial guarantees; and trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations, and individuals, and investment advisory and brokerage products.