Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:WTFC) Hits New 1-Year High on Earnings Beat

Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:WTFC) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $150.98 and last traded at $148.7250, with a volume of 84788 shares. The stock had previously closed at $144.72.

The bank reported $3.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.93 by $0.22. Wintrust Financial had a return on equity of 13.17% and a net margin of 19.48%.The company had revenue of $586.67 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $700.85 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.63 earnings per share.

Wintrust Financial News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Wintrust Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record earnings and EPS beat: Wintrust reported record full‑year net income of $823.8M and Q4 net income of $223.0M; Q4 diluted EPS of $3.15 topped consensus. Management highlighted record net interest income and pre‑tax, pre‑provision income. Wintrust Financial beats Q4 expectations with record net income
• Positive Sentiment: Strong balance‑sheet momentum: Loans and deposits each rose about $1.0B in Q4 (8% and 7% annualized), total assets grew ~9% annualized, and net interest margin ticked up to ~3.52% (3.54% FTE), supporting record net interest income. Those drivers point to continued NII expansion if margins hold. Wintrust Financial Corporation Reports Record Net Income
• Positive Sentiment: 2026 growth target: Management is guiding to mid‑ to high single‑digit loan growth for 2026 while aiming to maintain stable margins — a clear signal they expect organic growth to continue without margin compression. Wintrust targets mid- to high single-digit loan growth for 2026 while maintaining stable margins
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue vs. consensus: Reported quarterly revenue/net revenue was below some Street estimates (company revenue lines driven by NII; non‑interest income was roughly flat), which tempers the beat and may limit upside if non‑interest revenue doesn’t rebound. MarketBeat earnings summary & slide deck
• Neutral Sentiment: Full disclosure and detail available: Management held an earnings call and provided slide deck and a full transcript — useful for investors wanting detail on loan pipelines, margin assumptions and capital deployment. Earnings call transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Credit and reserve items: Provision for credit losses rose Q/Q (to $27.6M) and non‑performing loans increased modestly (to $185.8M), which investors watch as the economy evolves; slight uptick in NPLs and higher provisions could pressure future results if trends continue. QuiverQuant summary of record net income and credit metrics
• Negative Sentiment: Non‑interest income and expense mix: Mortgage banking revenue slipped and investment‑securities gains were lower; non‑interest expense rose slightly (including OREO adjustments). If fee income stays soft, WTFC’s margin reliance increases and earnings sensitivity to NII/margin changes rises. MSN recap of Q4 profit and income mix

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on WTFC shares. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $161.00 price target (up previously from $160.00) on shares of Wintrust Financial in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Wintrust Financial from $151.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. DA Davidson set a $165.00 target price on shares of Wintrust Financial in a report on Wednesday. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Wintrust Financial from $175.00 to $178.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Wintrust Financial in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $155.08.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in Wintrust Financial by 49.0% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,019 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $115,000 after acquiring an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its position in Wintrust Financial by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 179,430 shares of the bank’s stock worth $20,179,000 after acquiring an additional 12,103 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Wintrust Financial by 2.0% in the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,767 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,025,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of Wintrust Financial by 12.2% during the second quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 978 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $121,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.48% of the company’s stock.

Wintrust Financial Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $139.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $134.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The company has a market capitalization of $10.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.29 and a beta of 0.88.

About Wintrust Financial

Wintrust Financial Corporation is a Chicago‐area bank holding company headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. Through its primary subsidiary, Wintrust Bank, the company operates a network of community banks serving metropolitan Chicago and select markets in southeastern Wisconsin. These locally branded banks provide personalized commercial and consumer banking solutions tailored to small and mid‐size businesses, professionals, and individual clients.

The firm’s core offerings include deposit products, commercial and residential lending, treasury management, and mortgage banking services.