Insider Selling: Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC) Director Sells 838 Shares of Stock

Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) Director Christine L. Pickering sold 838 shares of Hancock Whitney stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.09, for a total transaction of $40,299.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 23,019 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,106,983.71. This trade represents a 3.51 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Hancock Whitney Stock Up 3.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ HWC traded up $1.78 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $49.96. 619,820 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 580,797. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.13. Hancock Whitney Co. has a twelve month low of $43.60 and a twelve month high of $62.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.46 and a beta of 0.99.

Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $367.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $368.12 million. Hancock Whitney had a net margin of 22.40% and a return on equity of 11.56%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Hancock Whitney Co. will post 5.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hancock Whitney Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This is a boost from Hancock Whitney's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.60%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 5th. Hancock Whitney's dividend payout ratio is currently 33.21%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on HWC shares. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $70.00 price objective (up previously from $68.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Hancock Whitney from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of Hancock Whitney from $68.00 to $62.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Raymond James reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and set a $62.00 target price (down previously from $72.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, DA Davidson decreased their price objective on Hancock Whitney from $69.00 to $62.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $60.56.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hancock Whitney

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Grove Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Hancock Whitney during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in Hancock Whitney by 554.6% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 707 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Hancock Whitney in the fourth quarter valued at about $49,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in shares of Hancock Whitney by 1,132.1% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 998 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 917 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Hancock Whitney during the fourth quarter worth $65,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.22% of the company's stock.

About Hancock Whitney

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.

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