Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC, Financial) has announced a robust start to the year, with its first-quarter net interest income reaching $269.9 million, a slight increase from $266.2 million in the same period last year. This performance highlights the company's sustained profitability and capital expansion efforts.
For the first quarter of 2025, Hancock Whitney reported a return on assets (ROA) of 1.41%, showcasing the company's efficiency in asset management. The net interest margin (NIM) also showed positive growth, contributing to an efficiency ratio of 55.22%. The firm's criticized loan levels saw a reduction for the period, while the allowance for credit losses (ACL) to loans stood strong at 1.49%.
In addition to these achievements, Hancock Whitney strengthened its capital ratios, facilitating a significant return of capital to shareholders. This included a substantial 50% year-over-year increase in the quarterly common stock dividend and the continuation of share repurchases.
Looking ahead, the company plans to focus on its organic growth strategy and is preparing to integrate Sabal Trust Company associates and clients into its operations in May. This strategic move is anticipated to further boost Hancock Whitney's growth trajectory throughout 2025.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast
Based on the one-year price targets offered by 8 analysts, the average target price for Hancock Whitney Corp (HWC, Financial) is $68.03 with a high estimate of $73.00 and a low estimate of $62.00. The average target implies an upside of 39.98% from the current price of $48.60. More detailed estimate data can be found on the Hancock Whitney Corp (HWC) Forecast page.
Based on the consensus recommendation from 8 brokerage firms, Hancock Whitney Corp's (HWC, Financial) average brokerage recommendation is currently 1.8, indicating "Outperform" status. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies Strong Buy, and 5 denotes Sell.
Based on GuruFocus estimates, the estimated GF Value for Hancock Whitney Corp (HWC, Financial) in one year is $55.22, suggesting a upside of 13.62% from the current price of $48.6. GF Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on the historical multiples the stock has traded at previously, as well as past business growth and the future estimates of the business' performance. More detailed data can be found on the Hancock Whitney Corp (HWC) Summary page.
