Hancock Whitney (HWC) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $5.51B
• Dividend Yield: 2.74%
• Average Volume (3M): 779.12K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 11.8
• Beta (1Y): 0.98
• Revenue Growth: -0.78%
• EPS Growth: 25.39%
• Country: US
• Employees: 3,497
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 1.49
• Shares Outstanding: 83,613,120
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 774,320
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 779,117
• PEG Ratio: 0.59
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.14
• Price to Sales (P/S): 2.31
• P/FCF Ratio: 7.68
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.28
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 3.52
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 4.91
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 10.99
• 1Y Price Target: $71.00
• Price Target Upside: 8.20% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Strong Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 6
• EPS Forecast (FY): 5.7
• Revenue Forecast (FY): $1.52B

• Rating: 72 Outperform
• Price Target: $73.00 ▲(11.25% Upside)

Hancock Whitney's strong financial performance and attractive valuation are key strengths, supported by positive earnings call insights. However, technical indicators suggest caution due to overbought conditions.

Positive Factors

Fee Income Growth

Consistent fee income growth indicates strong demand for the bank's services and enhances revenue diversification, supporting long-term financial stability.

Capital Strength

Robust capital ratios provide a solid foundation for future growth, ensuring the bank can withstand economic fluctuations and invest in strategic opportunities.

Expansion in Dallas Market

Expanding into the Dallas market enhances geographic diversification and potential customer base, supporting long-term growth and market presence.

Negative Factors

Deposit Decline

A decline in deposits can impact liquidity and funding stability, potentially constraining the bank's ability to support loan growth and other operations.

Revenue Growth Challenges

Negative revenue growth may indicate challenges in maintaining market share or product demand, which could affect long-term profitability if not addressed.

Decline in Free Cash Flow Growth

A decline in free cash flow growth can limit the bank's ability to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders, impacting future financial flexibility.

Hancock Whitney Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) is a regional bank headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, with a strong presence across the southeastern United States. The bank provides a range of financial services, including personal and commercial banking, investment management, and wealth management services. HWC focuses on delivering tailored banking solutions to individuals, businesses, and municipalities, emphasizing customer relationships and community engagement.

How the Company Makes Money

Hancock Whitney generates revenue primarily through its core banking operations, which include interest income from loans and investment securities, as well as non-interest income from services such as wealth management, mortgage banking, and transaction fees. The bank earns interest income by providing various loan products, including commercial loans, consumer loans, and mortgages, and collects interest on investment securities. Additionally, HWC benefits from non-interest income streams, including fees for account services, financial advisory services, and asset management. Its strategic partnerships with financial technology companies also enhance its service offerings and customer experience, contributing to its overall earnings. The bank's focus on economic growth in its operating regions and maintaining a strong loan portfolio further supports its revenue generation efforts.

Hancock Whitney Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Hancock Whitney demonstrates strong profitability with a healthy net profit margin and stable financial position. However, recent declines in revenue and free cash flow growth pose potential challenges.

Income Statement

Hancock Whitney's income statement shows strong profitability with a consistent gross profit margin above 67% over the years. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) net profit margin is healthy at 24.04%, indicating efficient cost management. However, the revenue growth rate has turned negative in the TTM period, which could be a concern if it continues. EBIT and EBITDA margins have remained stable, reflecting operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reflects a stable financial position with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47 in the TTM period, which is an improvement from previous years. Return on equity is consistent at around 11%, indicating effective use of equity. The equity ratio remains strong, suggesting a solid capital structure. However, the increase in total debt in the TTM period should be monitored.

Cash Flow

Cash flow analysis shows a decline in free cash flow growth in the TTM period, which is a concern. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, indicating potential issues in converting income to cash. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio remains high, suggesting that the company is still generating sufficient cash relative to its net income.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	2.01B	2.05B	1.89B	1.47B	1.35B	1.38B
Gross Profit	1.44B	1.39B	1.31B	1.41B	1.37B	664.05M
EBITDA	642.25M	615.69M	536.40M	704.81M	613.83M	-74.70M
Net Income	482.57M	460.81M	392.60M	524.09M	463.21M	-45.17M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	35.77B	35.08B	35.58B	35.18B	36.53B	33.64B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	6.31B	6.68B	6.10B	6.44B	11.22B	7.86B
Total Debt	2.11B	967.38M	1.52B	2.23B	2.03B	2.18B
Total Liabilities	31.29B	30.95B	31.77B	31.84B	32.86B	30.20B
Stockholders Equity	4.47B	4.13B	3.80B	3.34B	3.67B	3.44B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	566.02M	615.50M	470.22M	812.88M	562.15M	317.32M
Operating Cash Flow	580.33M	625.74M	495.25M	842.02M	585.69M	355.19M
Investing Cash Flow	-673.78M	274.76M	-295.21M	662.36M	-3.22B	-3.18B
Financing Cash Flow	38.16M	-886.79M	-203.29M	-1.34B	2.51B	2.92B

Hancock Whitney Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 65.62
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Negative
• STOCH: Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HWC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 65.62 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 60.87, above the 50-day MA of 59.19, and above the 200-day MA of 56.62, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.89 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 74.15 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 89.08 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HWC.

Hancock Whitney Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
UBSI	80 Outperform	$5.50B	12.85	8.24%	3.80%	8.83%	15.49%
AUB	79 Outperform	$5.22B	19.64	5.42%	3.79%	43.53%	-21.74%
ABCB	78 Outperform	$5.33B	13.49	10.34%	1.03%	2.20%	20.88%
AX	78 Outperform	$4.84B	11.43	16.65%	―	1.66%	-9.31%
HWC	72 Outperform	$5.51B	11.80	11.11%	2.74%	-0.78%	25.39%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%
FFIN	63 Neutral	$4.52B	18.67	13.89%	2.34%	12.90%	16.92%

Hancock Whitney Corporate Events

Hancock Whitney Announces New Stock Buyback Program

On December 9, 2025, Hancock Whitney Corporation’s Board of Directors authorized a new stock buyback program, effective January 1, 2026, allowing the company to repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding common stock by December 31, 2026. This initiative replaces the previous program, which was fully utilized in the fourth quarter of 2025, and reflects the company’s strategic focus on enhancing shareholder value through flexible repurchase options in accordance with market conditions and regulatory requirements.

Hancock Whitney Reveals Q4 Update at Conference

Hancock Whitney announced its participation in the Piper Sandler’s Financial Services Conference on November 11, 2025, in Aventura, FL, where it shared updated mid-quarter data through an investor presentation. The company also provided a fourth-quarter update, revealing plans to repurchase 443,700 shares of common stock and offering guidance on loans, deposits, and net interest income, reflecting a strategic focus on growth and financial stability.

Hancock Whitney Reports Strong Q3 2025 Financial Results

On October 14, 2025, Hancock Whitney Corporation announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2025, reporting a net income of $127.5 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, marking an increase from the previous quarter. The company highlighted strong performance with improvements in profitability, capital ratios, and operational efficiency, despite a decrease in deposits and an increase in nonaccrual loans. The results reflect the company’s commitment to its growth plan and capital management strategies, including share repurchases.