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1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

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 accepts various deposit products, including noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and time deposit accounts.The company also offers loans products comprising commercial and industrial loans; commercial real estate loans; construction and land development loans; residential mortgages; consumer loans comprising second lien mortgage home loans, home equity lines of credit, and nonresidential consumer purpose loans; revolving credit facilities; and letters of credit and financial guarantees.


In addition, it offers investment brokerage and treasury management services, and annuity and life insurance products; and trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations, and individuals.Further, the company facilitates investments in new market tax credit activities; and holds various foreclosed assets.The company operates 177 banking locations and 239 automated teller machines primarily in the Gulf south corridor, including southern and central Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; southern, central, and northwest Louisiana; the northern, central, and panhandle regions of Florida; and certain areas of east Texas, including Houston, Beaumont, Dallas, and San Antonio.


It also operates a loan production office in Tennessee; and a trust and asset management office in Texas.The company was formerly known as Hancock Holding Company and changed its name to Hancock Whitney Corporation in May 2018.Hancock Whitney Corporation was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.

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1.b. Last Insights on HWC

Hancock Whitney Corporation's recent performance has been driven by several positive factors. The company's Q3 2025 earnings beat estimates, driven by stronger net interest income (NII) and fee income growth. Additionally, the company's Board of Directors authorized a stock buyback program, allowing for the purchase of up to 5% of outstanding shares, which will likely have a positive impact on shareholder value. Furthermore, the company has earned a consensus "Buy" rating from analysts, with seven assigning a buy rating and one a strong buy rating (MarketBeat reports).

1.c. Company Highlights

2. Hancock Whitney Corporation Posts Strong Q4 2025 Earnings with 8% EPS Growth

Hancock Whitney Corporation reported a robust fourth quarter 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) rising 8% year-over-year to $1.5, beating analyst estimates of $1.48. The company's pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) grew 6%, and tangible book value per share increased 12%. Net interest income growth, strong fee income performance, and well-controlled expenses led to an efficiency ratio of 54.9% for the quarter and 54.8% for the year. The company's net interest margin (NIM) is expected to benefit from a bond portfolio restructuring, anticipating a 7 basis point upside.

Publication Date: Jan -22

📋 Highlights
  • Q4 2025 Performance:: EPS up 8%, PPNR growth of 6%, and tangible book value per share rose 12% YoY.
  • Bond Restructuring Impact:: Expected to boost NIM by 7 bps and EPS by $0.23 annually.
  • 2026 Guidance:: NII to grow 5-6%, PPNR 4.5-5.5%, and efficiency ratio to stay at 54-55%.
  • New Banker Hiring:: 50 hires in 2026 (vs. 22 in 2025) to drive business and commercial banking growth.
  • Securities Purchase:: $1.4B in CMBS acquired Q4 2025 to enhance yield and balance sheet growth.

Loan and Deposit Growth

Loans grew $362 million or 6% annualized, driven by strong production across core markets, with commercial real estate and healthcare delivering consistent growth. Deposits were up $620 million or 9% annualized, largely driven by seasonal activity in public fund DDA and interest-bearing accounts. The company expects low single-digit deposit growth in 2026, driven by new hires, business banking traction, and investments in treasury services.

Guidance and Outlook

The company provided guidance for 2026, expecting net interest income (NII) to be up between 5% and 6% from 2025, with modest NIM expansion, and PPNR to be up between 4.5% and 5.5%. The efficiency ratio is expected to fall in the range of 54% and 55% in 2026. Hancock Whitney plans to hire 50 new bankers in 2026, up from 22 in the previous year, with a focus on business and commercial bankers.

Valuation and Dividend Yield

With a Price-to-Tangible Book Value (P/TBV) of approximately 1.3, and a Dividend Yield of 2.6%, Hancock Whitney's valuation appears reasonable. Analysts estimate revenue growth at 4.6% for the next year. The company's return on equity (ROE) stands at 11.06%, indicating a decent return for shareholders.

Credit Quality and Risk Management

The company sees a resilient portfolio, with fine-tuned underwriting and portfolio management processes. Charge-offs in Q4 were situationally specific, and reserves were in place for some. Hancock Whitney has a fairly high reserve ratio of 143 basis points, which could run down over time but not below 125-130 basis points.

Share Buyback and Capital Management

The company has a new 5% buyback plan authorized through the end of 2026, and plans to maintain a balanced approach to buying back shares, being cognizant of price sensitivity. Hancock Whitney aims to reduce its tangible common equity (TCE) ratio to certain levels by addressing dividend and organically growing the balance sheet.

3. NewsRoom

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3 Overlooked Dividend Stocks for Choppy Markets in 2026

Feb -18

Source: marketbeat.com

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Best Income Stocks to Buy for February 13th

Feb -13

Source: zacks.com

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Home BancShares (NYSE:HOMB) & Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) Head-To-Head Review

Feb -10

Source: defenseworld.net

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Hancock Whitney (HWC) Upgraded to Strong Buy: Here's What You Should Know

Feb -03

Source: zacks.com

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5 Bank Stocks With Recent Dividend Hikes to Keep on Your Radar

Feb -02

Source: zacks.com

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Hancock Whitney Corporation Increases Quarterly Dividend 11.1%

Jan -29

Source: businesswire.com

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Hancock Whitney: Capital Remains A Differentiator

Jan -23

Source: seekingalpha.com

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HWC Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates on Fee Income & NII, Shares Dip

Jan -21

Source: zacks.com

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (4.00%)

6. Segments

Banking and Related Activities

Expected Growth: 4.0%

Hancock Whitney Corporation's 4.0% growth in Banking and Related Activities is driven by increasing loan demand, expansion of commercial banking services, and strategic acquisitions. Additionally, the corporation's focus on digital transformation, cost savings initiatives, and a favorable interest rate environment have contributed to its growth.

7. Detailed Products

Commercial Banking

Provides financial solutions to businesses, including cash management, lending, and treasury management services.

Private Banking

Offers personalized financial services to high net worth individuals, including investment management, trust services, and wealth planning.

Mortgage Banking

Provides mortgage lending services to individuals and businesses, including residential and commercial mortgage loans.

Treasury Management

Offers cash management and treasury services to businesses, including account management, payment processing, and fraud prevention.

Investment Services

Provides investment products and services, including brokerage, investment management, and retirement planning.

Insurance Services

Offers insurance products and services, including property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and employee benefits.

8. Hancock Whitney Corporation's Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

Hancock Whitney Corporation operates in the banking industry, which has a moderate threat of substitutes. While customers have some alternatives, such as credit unions and online lenders, the switching costs are relatively high, and the company's strong brand and customer relationships mitigate the threat.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

Hancock Whitney Corporation's customers have limited bargaining power due to the company's diverse customer base and lack of concentration. Additionally, the company's strong brand and customer relationships reduce the bargaining power of individual customers.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

Hancock Whitney Corporation has a diverse supplier base, and no single supplier has significant bargaining power. The company's strong financial position and long-term relationships with suppliers also reduce the bargaining power of suppliers.

Threat Of New Entrants

The banking industry has significant barriers to entry, including regulatory hurdles and high capital requirements. Additionally, Hancock Whitney Corporation's strong brand and established customer relationships make it difficult for new entrants to gain traction.

Intensity Of Rivalry

The banking industry is highly competitive, with many established players competing for market share. Hancock Whitney Corporation operates in a crowded market, and the company must continually innovate and improve its products and services to maintain its competitive position.

9. SWOT Analysis

Strength

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

Value
Debt Weight 26.97%
Debt Cost 5.92%
Equity Weight 73.03%
Equity Cost 10.56%
WACC 9.31%
Leverage 36.94%

11. Quality Control: Hancock Whitney Corporation passed 4 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Stock-Card
Hancock Whitney

A-Score: 6.3/10

Value: 6.0

Growth: 5.9

Quality: 7.2

Yield: 6.0

Momentum: 5.5

Volatility: 7.0

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
Webster

A-Score: 6.2/10

Value: 6.2

Growth: 6.3

Quality: 7.5

Yield: 6.0

Momentum: 5.0

Volatility: 6.3

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
Atlantic Union Bankshares

A-Score: 5.9/10

Value: 6.2

Growth: 5.2

Quality: 7.0

Yield: 8.0

Momentum: 2.5

Volatility: 6.7

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
Zions Bank

A-Score: 5.9/10

Value: 7.0

Growth: 6.9

Quality: 6.2

Yield: 6.0

Momentum: 4.0

Volatility: 5.3

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
Ameris

A-Score: 5.5/10

Value: 3.2

Growth: 7.8

Quality: 5.7

Yield: 2.0

Momentum: 7.0

Volatility: 7.3

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
UMB

A-Score: 5.4/10

Value: 5.9

Growth: 5.8

Quality: 6.3

Yield: 4.0

Momentum: 3.5

Volatility: 7.0

1-Year Total Return ->

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Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

71.18$

Current Price

71.18$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows