Hancock Whitney (US:HWC) ZACKSยท2025-10-15 16:31Core Insights - Hancock Whitney Corp. (HWC) reported third-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.49, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41, and reflecting a 12% increase from the prior year quarter [1][9] Financial Performance - Net income for the quarter was $127.5 million, a 10.3% increase year over year, exceeding the estimate of $119.5 million [2] - Total revenues reached $385.7 million, up 4.9% year over year, but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $387.9 million [3] - Net interest income (NII) increased by 2.9% year over year to $282.3 million, with a net interest margin (NIM) of 3.49%, expanding by 10 basis points [3] - Non-interest income totaled $106 million, reflecting a 10.5% increase, driven by growth in nearly all components except other income [4] - Total non-interest expenses rose by 4.4% to $212.8 million, slightly below the projected $217.4 million [4] Loan and Deposit Trends - Total loans amounted to $23.6 billion, showing a slight increase from the previous quarter, while total deposits decreased by 1.3% to $28.7 billion [5] Credit Quality - The provision for credit losses was $12.7 million, down 31.9% from the prior-year quarter, indicating improved credit quality [6] - Net charge-offs were 0.19% of average total loans, down 11 basis points from the prior-year quarter [6] Capital and Profitability Ratios - As of September 30, 2025, the Tier 1 leverage ratio improved to 11.46% from 11.03% a year ago, and the common equity Tier 1 ratio rose to 14.08% from 13.78% [7] - Return on average assets increased to 1.46% from 1.32%, while return on average common equity rose to 11.58% from 11.43% [7] Share Repurchase Activity - In the reported quarter, HWC repurchased 0.66 million shares at an average price of $60.45 per share [10] Strategic Outlook - The company's strategic expansion initiatives are expected to support top-line growth, while bond restructuring efforts and higher rates may enhance NII and NIM [11]