Wolverine Asset Management LLC Raises Position in Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC)

Wolverine Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC) by 20.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 38,032 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,345 shares during the period. Wolverine Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Hancock Whitney were worth $2,081,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HWC. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Hancock Whitney during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Grove Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Hancock Whitney during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Hancock Whitney in the 4th quarter worth about $49,000. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of Hancock Whitney by 170.3% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,662 shares of the company’s stock worth $136,000 after acquiring an additional 1,677 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Hancock Whitney by 19.1% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $142,000 after acquiring an additional 476 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.22% of the company’s stock.

Hancock Whitney Stock Down 2.2 %

HWC stock opened at $56.82 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.76 and a beta of 1.27. 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 Co. has a 1-year low of $41.56 and a 1-year high of $62.40. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $57.64 and a 200-day moving average price of $54.85.

Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 21st. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.12. Hancock Whitney had a return on equity of 11.56% and a net margin of 22.40%. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.26 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Hancock Whitney Co. will post 5.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hancock Whitney Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This is an increase from Hancock Whitney’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 5th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.17%. Hancock Whitney’s dividend payout ratio is 34.09%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on HWC shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of Hancock Whitney from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $72.00 price objective (up previously from $64.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $74.00 target price (up from $68.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Hancock Whitney from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $62.56.

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.