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WesBanco Inc (WSBC)
NASDAQ:WSBC

WesBanco (WSBC) AI Stock Analysis

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WSBC

WesBanco

(NASDAQ:WSBC)

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Outperform 75 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$40.00
â–²(9.41% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by solid financial performance (strong revenue and free-cash-flow growth with improved leverage), supported by a constructive earnings outlook (stable-to-improving NIM guidance and identifiable cost saves). Technicals add a moderate tailwind with the stock trading above key moving averages. Valuation is supportive due to a high dividend yield, while the main offsetting risks are margin/ROE pressure, weaker cash-flow conversion metrics, and elevated CRE payoffs plus near-term expense headwinds discussed on the call.
Positive Factors
Revenue and Free Cash Flow Growth
Sustained top-line growth and very strong free cash flow expansion improve financial flexibility. This durable cash generation supports loan funding, dividend increases, capital build, and reinvestment in technology or markets without relying on volatile funding sources.
Scale from Premier Acquisition
The Premier deal materially increases scale, deposits and fee income, enhancing market position among top-50 U.S. regional banks. Larger footprint and diversified deposits reduce concentration risk and improve ability to cross-sell wealth, treasury and commercial products over time.
Net Interest Margin Expansion
A higher NIM trajectory, reinforced by reinvestment of securities at materially higher yields than legacy portfolio, supports durable net interest income growth. This structural pickup underpins core profitability assuming continued deposit funding of loan growth.
Negative Factors
Elevated CRE Payoffs
Large, front‑loaded commercial real estate payoffs materially reduce earning asset balances and create a multi-quarter headwind to loan growth. That runoff pressures NIM and redeployment needs, increasing reinvestment risk and potentially compressing loan yields.
Declining Margins and ROE
Erosion in gross and net margins and falling ROE signal weakening profitability efficiency. Lower cash conversion from operating income can constrain internal funding for growth and shareholder returns, requiring sustained cost discipline or higher revenue mix from fees.
Post-Acquisition Expense and Capital Drag
Acquisition-related expense base, intangible amortization and quarterly preferred dividend obligations meaningfully reduce earnings available to common shareholders. This structurally raises the expense floor and limits near-term capital allocation flexibility until cost saves and CET1 targets are met.

WesBanco (WSBC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

WesBanco Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWesBanco, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for WesBanco Bank, Inc. that provides retail banking, corporate banking, personal and corporate trust, brokerage, and mortgage banking and insurance services. It operates in two segments, Community Banking, and Trust and Investment Services. The company offers commercial demand, individual demand, and time deposit accounts; money market accounts; interest bearing and non-interest bearing demand deposits, as well as savings deposits; and certificates of deposit. It also provides commercial real estate loans; commercial and industrial loans; residential real estate loans, including loans to purchase, construct, or refinance borrower's home; home equity lines of credit; installment loans to finance the purchase of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and other recreational vehicles, as well as home equity installment loans, unsecured home improvement loans, and revolving lines of credit; and commercial, mortgage, and individual installment loans. In addition, the company offers trust and investment services, as well as various investment products comprising mutual funds and annuities; and securities brokerage services. Further, WesBanco, Inc., through its non-banking subsidiaries, acts as an agency that specializes in property, casualty, life, and title insurance, as well as benefit plan sales and administration to personal and commercial clients; provides broker dealer and discount brokerage services; holds investment securities and loans; and holds and leases commercial real estate properties, as well as acts as an investment adviser to a family of mutual funds. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 206 branches and 203 ATMs in West Virginia, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Kentucky, southern Indiana, and Maryland, as well as seven loan production offices in West Virginia, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Maryland, and northern Virginia. WesBanco, Inc. was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia.
How the Company Makes MoneyWesBanco generates revenue primarily through its interest income, which comes from loans and leases extended to customers, as well as from investments in securities. The company's key revenue streams include net interest income from traditional banking operations, fees and commissions from wealth management services, mortgage origination fees, and service charges on deposit accounts. Additionally, WesBanco earns income from its investment and trust services, which cater to both individual and institutional clients. The bank also benefits from strategic partnerships with various financial service providers, enhancing its product offerings and customer reach, thereby contributing to its overall earnings.

WesBanco Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Income Before Taxes by Segment
Income Before Taxes by Segment
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

WesBanco Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 27, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 28, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlights strong and broad-based financial performance driven by the successful Premier acquisition, marked NIM expansion, deposit-funded loan growth, record fee businesses and disciplined credit metrics. These positives are tempered by elevated CRE payoffs that pressured loan growth, higher expenses linked to the acquisition and near-term investments and seasonal deposit variability. Management provided constructive 2026 guidance and concrete cost-saving actions (branch closures) to offset inflationary pressures.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Full-Year and Quarterly Earnings Growth
Full-year diluted EPS of $3.40 (excluding merger-related charges and day-1 purchased loan provision), up 45% YoY; full-year pretax pre-provision earnings growth >100% YoY; fourth-quarter net income excluding merger/restructuring expenses of $81 million and diluted EPS of $0.84, up 18% YoY.
Net Interest Margin Expansion
Fourth-quarter NIM of 3.61%, improving 58 basis points YoY and 8 basis points QoQ; management expects Q1 NIM roughly consistent with 3.61%, +3–5 bps in Q2 and to reach the high 3.60% range in the back half of 2026.
Deposit-Funded Loan Growth and Balance Sheet Scale
Total deposits $21.7 billion, up 53% YoY (including $6.9B from Premier acquisition) with $662 million organic deposit growth that fully funded loan growth; total portfolio loans $19.2 billion, up 52% YoY (including $5.9B acquired) and organic loan growth >$650 million for the year; loans increased 5% YoY and ~6% annualized QoQ.
Credit Quality Remains Strong
Nonperforming assets to total assets at 0.33%; net charge-offs of 6 basis points of total loans; allowance for credit losses at 1.14% of portfolio loans ($219 million), consistent with prior quarter.
Operational Efficiency and Capital Position
Fourth-quarter efficiency ratio reduced to ~52% (methodology updated to align with peers); return on tangible common equity of 16% in Q4; CET1 ratio 10.34%, improved 24 basis points QoQ, management targeting ~15–20 bps of CET1 build per quarter going forward.
Successful Acquisition and Strategic Milestones
Completed integration of Premier Financial, creating a ~$28 billion asset regional bank and ranking among the top-50 U.S. public financial institutions by assets; acquisition drove scale benefits in loans, deposits and fee income.
Record and Growing Fee Businesses
Record treasury management revenue of $6 million and record total wealth AUM of $10.4 billion; gross swap fees doubled to $10 million for the full year; noninterest income grew 19% YoY in Q4 and record noninterest income of $167 million for the year.
Organic Growth Initiatives Showing Traction
New health care vertical originated ~$500 million in loans and contributed deposit and fee relationships; loan production offices (LPOs) in Northern Virginia and Knoxville producing meaningful pipelines; continued branch/digital optimization with planned market expansion (Chattanooga branch opening).
Negative Updates
Elevated Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Payoffs
CRE project payoffs totaled $415 million in Q4 and $905 million for the year (2.5x prior year) — ~$100 million more than prior guidance — creating an estimated ~4% headwind to loan growth and management expects payoffs of $600–800 million in 2026, weighted to the first half of the year.
Acquisition-Related Expense and Intangible Amortization
Noninterest expense (excl. restructuring/merger costs) increased 44% YoY in Q4 due primarily to Premier's expense base, higher core deposit intangible amortization and higher FDIC insurance expense; preferred dividends and overlap reduced earnings available to common shareholders by ~$13 million.
Near-Term Expense Increases and Investments
Expect equipment and software costs to rise (investments in products/technology) and marketing to increase approximately $800,000 per quarter to support new-market growth; Q1 expense run-rate expected roughly consistent with Q4 with modest increases later in 2026 from hires and merit steps.
Seasonal and Short-Term Deposit Volatility
Management noted typical January deposit softness and intra-quarter variability after a very strong Q4 deposit inflow; intentional runoff of higher-cost CDs and broker deposits (e.g., $55M CD runoff, $50M broker paydown) creates short-term funding dynamics.
Profitability Impact from Capital Actions
Capital actions during the quarter included redemption of Series A preferred and repayment of acquired subordinated debt, with overlapping preferred dividends and redemption premium that temporarily reduced GAAP earnings; CET1 is solid but management signals buybacks only after CET1 reaches ~10.5–11% and M&A is a distant priority.
Company Guidance
WesBanco’s 2026 guidance models two 25‑bp Fed cuts (April and July) and a NIM path roughly flat at 3.61% in Q1, up 3–5 bps in Q2 and modestly into the high‑3.60% range in the back half of the year; fair‑value accretion was ~27 bps in Q4 and is modeled at ~25 bps in Q1 (then ~1–2 bps/quarter). Management expects mid‑single‑digit YoY loan growth funded by deposits, assumes elevated CRE payoffs of $600–$800M in 2026 weighted to H1 (after $905M in 2025 and $415M in Q4), a commercial loan pipeline >$1.2B (40% in new markets), and gross commercial swap fees of $7–$10M; securities cash flows of ~$250M/quarter are being reinvested at ~4.7% vs. portfolio yields of ~3.3% (125–150 bps pickup). Expense and capital assumptions include Q1 expenses roughly consistent with Q4, anticipated annualized savings of ~$6M from 27 branch closures beginning mid‑Q1, marketing +$800k/quarter, higher equipment/software spend versus $25M, Series B preferred dividends of $4.24M/quarter from Q1, CET1 at 10.34% with modeled build of ~15–20 bps/quarter (targeting >10.5% by mid‑year), and a full‑year effective tax rate of 20.5–21.5%; provision, reserve and exact expense cadence remain subject to macro and credit metrics.

WesBanco Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Solid fundamentals overall: strong TTM revenue growth (+12.49%) and strong free cash flow growth (+30.97%) support the business outlook, and leverage improved (debt-to-equity 0.42). Offsetting this, profit margins and return on equity have declined, and operating cash flow conversion to net income is low.
Income Statement
75
Positive
WesBanco shows strong revenue growth with a 12.49% increase in TTM, indicating robust business expansion. However, the gross profit margin has declined from previous years, suggesting increased costs or pricing pressures. The net profit margin has also decreased, reflecting potential challenges in maintaining profitability. Despite these, the company maintains a healthy EBIT and EBITDA margin, showcasing operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The debt-to-equity ratio has improved to 0.42 in TTM from higher levels in previous years, indicating better leverage management. However, the return on equity has decreased, suggesting less effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio remains stable, reflecting a solid capital structure.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
WesBanco's free cash flow growth is impressive at 30.97% in TTM, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, suggesting potential issues in converting income to cash. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio remains high, demonstrating efficient cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.30B947.61M824.87M625.14M609.51M661.10M
Gross Profit798.97M580.97M576.96M587.46M646.75M491.56M
EBITDA250.44M200.40M208.48M249.44M315.24M159.21M
Net Income181.63M151.51M159.03M192.11M242.26M122.04M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets27.52B18.68B17.71B16.93B16.93B16.43B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.24B780.73M2.79B2.94B4.26B2.88B
Total Debt1.75B1.47B1.73B1.12B458.67M983.24M
Total Liabilities23.40B15.89B15.18B14.51B14.23B13.67B
Stockholders Equity4.12B2.79B2.53B2.43B2.69B2.76B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow245.26M200.67M146.82M196.15M327.76M52.05M
Operating Cash Flow262.93M211.00M169.32M204.14M336.30M59.61M
Investing Cash Flow-122.81M-1.03B-535.22M-1.07B-328.50M57.79M
Financing Cash Flow247.22M791.90M552.87M21.07M338.11M553.25M

WesBanco Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price36.56
Price Trends
50DMA
33.97
Positive
100DMA
32.57
Positive
200DMA
31.53
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.55
Negative
RSI
63.06
Neutral
STOCH
69.08
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WSBC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 36.56 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 34.80, above the 50-day MA of 33.97, and above the 200-day MA of 31.53, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.55 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.06 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.08 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WSBC.

WesBanco Risk Analysis

WesBanco disclosed 35 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. WesBanco reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

WesBanco Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$3.63B13.0410.27%1.16%-3.62%10.83%
75
Outperform
$3.46B16.186.54%4.35%41.49%-5.53%
73
Outperform
$3.36B16.0611.01%3.14%9.41%20.64%
70
Outperform
$3.60B13.608.97%2.71%-5.44%45.47%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
$3.63B-2.2710.47%1.49%-1.40%-420.27%
62
Neutral
$2.98B-7.53-12.42%4.41%-55.53%-387.04%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WSBC
WesBanco
36.56
2.94
8.73%
BKU
BankUnited
50.41
11.17
28.46%
CBU
Community Bank System
64.40
-0.14
-0.22%
MCHB
Mechanics Bancorp Class A
15.29
5.11
50.20%
SFNC
Simmons 1st Nat'l
20.97
-1.05
-4.76%
WSFS
Wsfs Financial
67.68
11.15
19.73%

WesBanco Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
WesBanco announces retirement of Chief Risk Officer Perkins
Neutral
Jan 23, 2026

On January 22, 2026, WesBanco, Inc. announced that Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Michael L. Perkins will retire from his position effective June 30, 2026. The company plans to enter into a separation agreement with Perkins in connection with his retirement, and while details are not yet finalized, the leadership transition in the chief risk role may have implications for WesBanco’s risk management oversight and continuity at the executive level.

The most recent analyst rating on (WSBC) stock is a Buy with a $39.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WesBanco stock, see the WSBC Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
WesBanco Increases Quarterly Dividend by 2.7%
Positive
Nov 19, 2025

WesBanco, Inc. announced a 2.7% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.38 per common share, payable on January 2, 2026, to shareholders of record on December 5, 2025. This marks the nineteenth dividend increase since 2010, reflecting the company’s strong capital position and net income, and results in a dividend yield of approximately 5.0% based on the recent stock price.

The most recent analyst rating on (WSBC) stock is a Buy with a $35.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WesBanco stock, see the WSBC Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresM&A Transactions
WesBanco Highlights Q4 2025 Investor Presentations
Positive
Nov 5, 2025

WesBanco has announced its Q4 2025 investor presentations, highlighting its strong market presence and diversified revenue streams. The company emphasizes its strategic growth through disciplined credit and risk management, leveraging digital capabilities, and maintaining a focus on shareholder returns. The merger with Premier and the associated synergies are expected to enhance its competitive positioning, although there are risks related to economic conditions and regulatory changes.

The most recent analyst rating on (WSBC) stock is a Buy with a $35.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WesBanco stock, see the WSBC Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 28, 2026