StockNews.com Upgrades Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) to "Hold"

Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Monday.

HWC has been the subject of a number of other reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of Hancock Whitney from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $74.00 target price (up previously from $68.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $72.00 price target (up previously from $64.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $62.56.

Hancock Whitney Price Performance

Shares of HWC stock traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $53.00. 724,002 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 500,645. The stock's 50-day moving average is $57.69 and its 200-day moving average is $55.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. Hancock Whitney has a 52 week low of $41.56 and a 52 week high of $62.40. The stock has a market cap of $4.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.04 and a beta of 1.24.

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Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 21st. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.12. Hancock Whitney had a net margin of 22.40% and a return on equity of 11.56%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Hancock Whitney will post 5.53 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Hancock Whitney

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of HWC. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Hancock Whitney by 9.7% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,911 shares of the company's stock valued at $105,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in Hancock Whitney by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 9,854 shares of the company's stock valued at $539,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its stake in Hancock Whitney by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 20,358 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,221,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Hancock Whitney by 1.9% during 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 in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of Hancock Whitney by 11.4% during 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 last quarter. 81.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hancock Whitney Company 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.