Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Invests $3.84 Million in Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new position in shares of Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 70,190 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,841,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.08% of Hancock Whitney as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of HWC. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its position in Hancock Whitney by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,911 shares of the company's stock valued at $105,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its holdings in Hancock Whitney by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 9,854 shares of the company's stock worth $539,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Hancock Whitney by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 20,358 shares of the company's stock worth $1,221,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Hancock Whitney by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 12,845 shares of the company's stock worth $703,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the period. Finally, US Bancorp DE grew its position in shares of Hancock Whitney by 11.4% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,581 shares of the company's stock worth $141,000 after buying an additional 265 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.22% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on HWC. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Hancock Whitney from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $70.00 price objective (up previously from $68.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Raymond James reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and set a $62.00 price objective (down from $72.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on Hancock Whitney from $68.00 to $62.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, DA Davidson lowered their price objective on Hancock Whitney from $69.00 to $62.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $61.25.

Hancock Whitney Trading Down 1.6%

Hancock Whitney stock traded down $0.88 during trading on Thursday, hitting $53.24. The company's stock had a trading volume of 536,273 shares, compared to its average volume of 598,275. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.08 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. The stock's fifty day moving average is $52.32 and its 200 day moving average is $55.17. Hancock Whitney Co. has a 1-year low of $43.60 and a 1-year high of $62.40.

Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.10. Hancock Whitney had a return on equity of 11.56% and a net margin of 22.40%. The company had revenue of $367.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $368.12 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Hancock Whitney Co. will post 5.53 EPS for the current year.

Hancock Whitney Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 5th. Hancock Whitney's dividend payout ratio is presently 33.21%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Christine L. Pickering sold 838 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.09, for a total value of $40,299.42. Following the sale, the director now owns 23,019 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,106,983.71. The trade was a 3.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.91% of the company's stock.

Hancock Whitney Profile

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.