Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) Shares Gap Down - Here's Why

Key Points

• Hancock Whitney shares fell sharply, opening at $65 versus the prior close of $72.38 and later trading at $63.65.
• The bank agreed to acquire Trustmark Corporation in an approximately $3.2 billion all-stock deal; the merger could expand its scale, though integration risks and stock-funded terms may weigh on the expected benefits.
• Analyst sentiment remained generally positive, with a Moderate Buy consensus and an average price target of $84.56. The latest quarter’s EPS matched estimates at $1.66, and revenue slightly exceeded expectations.

Hancock Whitney Corporation (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Thursday. The stock had previously closed at $72.38, but opened at $65.00. Hancock Whitney shares last traded at $63.6510, with a volume of 542,379 shares.

Hancock Whitney News Roundup

These are some of the HWC news items that stood out recently:

• Neutral Sentiment: Hancock Whitney agreed to acquire Trustmark Corporation in an approximately $3.2 billion all-stock deal. The transaction could expand the bank’s scale, while the stock-funded consideration and integration risks may temper the potential benefit. Hancock Whitney Corporation to Acquire Trustmark Corporation Hancock Whitney to buy Trustmark in ~$3.2B all-stock deal
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research trimmed several 2027 and 2028 EPS forecasts, including its FY2027 estimate to $7.12 from $7.22 and FY2028 estimate to $7.68 from $7.72. The analyst maintained a Hold rating; the revisions suggest slightly softer earnings expectations. Hancock Whitney analyst estimate updates

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Hancock Whitney from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Weiss Ratings raised Hancock Whitney from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Hancock Whitney from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 21st. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research note on Wednesday, October 21st. Finally, Stephens lowered their price target on Hancock Whitney from $86.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hancock Whitney has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $84.56.

Hancock Whitney Trading Down 10.0%

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $73.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $71.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market cap of $5.18 billion, a PE ratio of 13.13 and a beta of 0.98.

Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 20th. The company reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.66. Hancock Whitney had a return on equity of 11.65% and a net margin of 20.51%. The company had revenue of $421.91 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $421.75 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.49 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Hancock Whitney Corporation will post 6.42 EPS for the current year.

Hancock Whitney Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 4th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 4th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. Hancock Whitney's payout ratio is presently 40.24%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hancock Whitney news, insider Emory L. Mayfield, Jr. sold 4,990 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.40, for a total value of $381,236.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 15,565 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,189,166. This trade represents a 24.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.92% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Hancock Whitney by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,909 shares of the company's stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. Abel Hall LLC boosted its holdings in Hancock Whitney by 1.5% in the third quarter. Abel Hall LLC now owns 9,984 shares of the company's stock valued at $719,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in shares of Hancock Whitney by 26.0% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 852 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in Hancock Whitney by 3.5% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 5,906 shares of the company's stock worth $425,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the period. Finally, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its position in Hancock Whitney by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 42,879 shares of the company's stock worth $3,089,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.22% of the company's stock.

About Hancock Whitney

Hancock Whitney is a bank holding company headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, whose principal subsidiary is Hancock Whitney Bank. The company provides personal and business banking services, including deposit accounts, loans, treasury management, mortgage lending, and online and mobile banking. It also offers wealth management, trust, and investment services. The bank serves customers across the Gulf South, with operations in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Its history includes roots in Hancock County Bank, founded in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, in 1899, and Whitney National Bank, established in New Orleans in 1883.

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