Hancock Whitney (HWC) Upgraded to Buy: Here's What You Should Know

Core Viewpoint - Hancock Whitney (HWC) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][4]. Earnings Estimates and Revisions - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hancock Whitney for the fiscal year ending December 2024 is projected at $5.17 per share, reflecting a slight decrease of -0.2% from the previous year [9]. - Over the past three months, analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Hancock Whitney by 5.9% [9]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks rating system is based solely on a company's changing earnings picture, which is tracked through EPS estimates from sell-side analysts [2]. - The system classifies stocks into five groups, with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), and has shown an impressive track record, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [8]. Market Implications - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Hancock Whitney in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [11]. - Rising earnings estimates and the corresponding rating upgrade indicate an improvement in Hancock Whitney's underlying business, which could lead to increased buying pressure and a higher stock price [6][4].