Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Takes Position in Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in Hancock Whitney Co. (NASDAQ:HWC) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 24,200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,176,000.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Hancock Whitney in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Hancock Whitney by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 39,074 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,899,000 after purchasing an additional 882 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Hancock Whitney in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $295,000. Trust Point Inc. purchased a new stake in Hancock Whitney in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $216,000. Finally, LVZ Inc. raised its stake in Hancock Whitney by 10.0% in the fourth quarter. LVZ Inc. now owns 10,185 shares of the company’s stock valued at $495,000 after purchasing an additional 930 shares in the last quarter. 81.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $52.00 target price (down from $55.00) on shares of Hancock Whitney in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Hancock Whitney from $51.00 to $45.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 8th. DA Davidson raised their target price on shares of Hancock Whitney from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Hancock Whitney from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Hancock Whitney from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.71.

Insider Transactions at Hancock Whitney

In other news, insider Christopher S. Ziluca sold 3,636 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.50, for a total value of $158,166.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 35,285 shares in the company, valued at $1,534,897.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, COO D Shane Loper sold 17,690 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.81, for a total value of $828,068.90. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 71,148 shares in the company, valued at $3,330,437.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Christopher S. Ziluca sold 3,636 shares of Hancock Whitney stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.50, for a total transaction of $158,166.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 35,285 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,534,897.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Hancock Whitney Trading Up 2.3 %

HWC stock opened at $45.28 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.92 billion, a PE ratio of 10.55 and a beta of 1.33. Hancock Whitney Co. has a one year low of $31.02 and a one year high of $49.65. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $43.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $42.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79.

Hancock Whitney Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 5th were issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.65%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 4th. Hancock Whitney’s dividend payout ratio is 27.97%.

Hancock Whitney 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.