Hancock Whitney Authorizes 5% Stock Buyback Program Effective January 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 10 2025
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Source: Newsfilter
- Buyback Program Initiation: Hancock Whitney's Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program allowing the company to repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding shares from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder value and boosting market confidence.
- Replacement of Existing Program: This new buyback program replaces the existing one, which fully exhausted its 4.3 million share repurchase capacity in Q4 2025, demonstrating the company's confidence in future stock performance.
- Flexible Repurchase Methods: The company may repurchase shares through various methods including open market purchases, block trades, accelerated share repurchase plans, or privately negotiated transactions, allowing for adaptability to market conditions while ensuring compliance.
- Strategic Adjustment: The implementation of this buyback program reflects Hancock Whitney's commitment to shareholder returns, which is expected to enhance the company's competitiveness in the financial services sector and lay a foundation for future growth.
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Analyst Views on HWC
Wall Street analysts forecast HWC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HWC is 72.43 USD with a low forecast of 65.00 USD and a high forecast of 76.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 67.290
Low
65.00
Averages
72.43
High
76.00
Current: 67.290
Low
65.00
Averages
72.43
High
76.00
About HWC
Hancock Whitney Corporation is a bank holding company. The Company provides comprehensive financial services through its bank subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Bank (the Bank), a Mississippi state bank, and other nonbank affiliates. The Bank offers a broad range of traditional and online banking services to commercial, small business and retail customers, providing a variety of transaction and savings deposit products, treasury management services, secured and unsecured loan products (including revolving credit facilities), letters of credit and similar financial guarantees. The Bank provides trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations and individuals and provides its customers with access to investment advisory and brokerage products. It offers other services through bank and nonbank subsidiaries. The Bank’s subsidiaries provide commercial finance products to middle market and corporate clients, including leases and related structures.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Hancock Whitney Corporation Announces Dividend Increase for Q1 2026
- Dividend Increase: Hancock Whitney Corporation announced a cash dividend of $0.50 per share for Q1 2026, reflecting an increase of $0.05 or 11.1%, demonstrating the company's ongoing profitability and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Stable Dividend History: The company has paid uninterrupted quarterly dividends since 1967, showcasing its stability in the financial market and long-term commitment to shareholders, which enhances investor confidence.
- Payment Date: The dividend will be payable on March 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 5, 2026, ensuring timely returns for investors and further solidifying the relationship between the company and its shareholders.
- Comprehensive Financial Services: Hancock Whitney offers a wide range of financial products and services across several states, including traditional and online banking, commercial banking, and investment services, highlighting its diversification and competitive position in the financial industry.
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Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) Reports 8% EPS Growth in Q4 2025, Plans to Hire 50 New Associates
- Strong Earnings Performance: Hancock Whitney reported a net income of $126 million and EPS of $1.49 in Q4 2025, maintaining stability compared to Q3, which underscores the company's consistent profitability and operational resilience.
- Balance Sheet Optimization: The completion of a $1.5 billion bond portfolio restructuring is expected to enhance the net interest margin by 7 basis points and add $0.23 to EPS annually, further strengthening financial flexibility and profitability.
- Optimistic Growth Outlook: Management projects a 5%-6% increase in net interest income for 2026, with mid-single-digit loan growth and low single-digit deposit growth anticipated, reflecting the company's confidence and proactive market positioning.
- Shareholder Return Plan: The board approved a new 5% share buyback program, aiming to enhance EPS through the repurchase of approximately $147 million in shares, demonstrating the company's recognition of its value and commitment to shareholders.
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