Hancock Whitney price target raised to $64 from $63 at KBW

Investing.com - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its price target on Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) to $64.00 from $63.00 on Wednesday, while maintaining a Market Perform rating on the stock.

The research firm cited several positive factors in its decision, including improved growth, net interest margin expansion, higher than expected share buybacks, and stable credit metrics.

KBW noted that Hancock Whitney shares have risen 26% since April, representing a 5% outperformance relative to the KRX banking index, indicating high market expectations for the quarter.

The firm stated that Hancock Whitney "delivered" on these expectations, which should "maintain stability in the shares" going forward.

KBW increased its earnings estimates for Hancock Whitney by 2-3% to $5.60/$5.80, primarily due to higher net interest income projections and a lower anticipated share count following the buyback activity.

In other recent news, Hancock Whitney Corporation reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, which fell slightly short of market expectations. The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32, missing the forecasted $1.36 by 2.94%. Revenue for the quarter was $375.48 million, also slightly under the anticipated $376.08 million. Despite these minor misses, the company showed resilience with a 2% increase in net interest income and an improved efficiency ratio of 54.91%. Hancock Whitney also completed its acquisition of Sable Trust Company, which contributed to growth in trust fees. Analysts from Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James and other firms noted the company’s strategic focus on organic expansion, while maintaining strong capital ratios with a TCE of 9.84% and CET1 at 14.03%. The company continues to project low single-digit loan growth for 2025 and plans to add 30 new bankers this year. Furthermore, Hancock Whitney’s leadership expressed optimism about future prospects, highlighting their strategic investments in new revenue producers and technology.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.