Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC)

In the past six months, Hancock Whitney Corp. has announced its first, second and third quarter 2025 financial results, reporting EPS of $1.38, $1.32 and $1.49 respectively. The company repurchased shares of its common stock and acquired Sabal Trust Company, projected to boost noninterest income. Despite beating earnings estimates, the stock experienced a decline following the Q3 report, but overall shares have risen approximately 10.6% since the beginning of the year.

Hancock Whitney experiences some demand seasonality, particularly concerning deposits, with seasonal activity impacting public fund demand deposit accounts and interest-bearing accounts. Loan demand can also be influenced by broader economic conditions, and the company anticipates loan growth to occur more significantly in the second half of the year.

Hancock Whitney Corporation operates as a regional bank holding company, generating revenue through interest income from loans and fee income from financial services. The company offers financial products and services for commercial and personal banking clients, including commercial loans, treasury management, and wealth management services.

Hancock Whitney Corporation has a regional presence across the Gulf South, operating bank offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. It also has loan production offices in Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. As of September 30, 2024, total deposits were approximately $28.5 billion and total loans were $23.8 billion.

Hancock Whitney has a positive brand reputation within the Gulf South communities it serves and has been recognized as one of America's Best Banks by Forbes for three consecutive years. Customer feedback highlights positive experiences with the bank's service, and there have been no significant negative events affecting its brand reputation in the past year.

As of December 31, 2024, institutional investors hold a significant 86.68% ownership in Hancock Whitney Corporation. BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are leading institutional owners. The largest individual shareholder is Leo W. Seal Jr. Insiders collectively own 7.73% of the company, while retail investors account for 5.83% of the ownership.