First Horizon (FHN) and Hancock Whitney (HWC): What to Watch in Their Upcoming Q1 Earnings
Key Takeaways
- First Horizon (FHN) reports Q1 2026 earnings on April 15, with consensus EPS of $0.49 and revenue of $869 million.
- Hancock Whitney (HWC) follows on April 21, expecting EPS of $1.50 and revenue around $393 million.
- Both regional banks showed strong Q4 2025 results: FHN EPS $0.52 (beat estimates), HWC EPS $1.49 (slight beat).
- FHN assets ~$84B, loans $63B, deposits $67B; HWC smaller at $35B assets, $24B loans, $29B deposits.
- Recent NIM stable at ~3.5% for both; credit quality solid with ACL ratios 1.3-1.4%.
- Tickeron AI favors HWC for superior ROTCE and per-share profitability.
Why These Regional Bank Earnings Matter Right Now
Quarterly earnings continue to be a key focus for regional banks such as First Horizon (FHN) and Hancock Whitney (HWC). These reports shed light on net interest income (NII, which is interest revenue minus funding costs), loan growth, deposit trends, and credit provisions in the current rate environment. Both banks operate in the Southeast U.S., where they compete in areas like commercial real estate, healthcare, and small business lending. In my view, FHN's larger scale provides more diversified revenue streams, while HWC stands out for its emphasis on efficiency. The upcoming Q1 reports on April 15 and 21 will be telling for NII resilience and expense management, shaping how investors see the stability of regional banks overall.
Diving into First Horizon's Outlook
First Horizon (FHN), based in Memphis, is set to release its Q1 2026 results on April 15 before the market opens, with a conference call at 9:30 AM ET. Analysts expect EPS of $0.49, an increase from $0.42 a year ago, alongside revenue of $869 million, marking about 7% growth. One thing that stands out is NII, following Q4 2025's $676 million (up 7% year-over-year) and a net interest margin (NIM) of 3.51%. Loans increased 2% sequentially to $63.3 billion, fueled by commercial and industrial portfolios, while deposits held steady at $67.5 billion. Credit quality looks solid: no provision expense in Q4, allowance for credit losses (ACL) at 1.31% of loans, and nonperforming assets (NPA) around 1%. Return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) reached 15% in Q4, which highlights its profitability strength. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to compare FHN against peers in the sector.
Hancock Whitney's Position Heading In
Hancock Whitney (HWC), headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, will report Q1 2026 earnings on April 21 after the close. The consensus points to EPS of $1.50 and revenue of about $393 million. In Q4 2025, EPS came in at $1.49 (meeting estimates), with net income of $126 million. Loans grew at a 6% annualized rate to $24 billion, particularly in healthcare and equipment finance, and deposits rose 9% on a linked-quarter annualized basis to $29.3 billion. NIM stayed at 3.48%, with a $13 million provision and net charge-offs (NCOs) of 0.22% annualized. ACL stood at 1.43%, NPAs at 0.45%, and criticized loans declined to 2.88%. Full-year 2025 EPS was $5.67, and the outlook calls for 2026 NII growth of 5-6%.
Comparing FHN and HWC Side by Side
FHN significantly outscales HWC, with $84 billion in assets compared to $35 billion, which supports broader revenue but comes with a larger expense base. On Q4 EPS, HWC edges ahead at $1.49 versus FHN's $0.52, thanks to stronger per-share earnings from its smaller share float. NIMs are closely matched around 3.5%, with both banks gaining from falling deposit costs. Loan-to-deposit ratios remain healthy at about 94% for FHN and 82% for HWC. Credit metrics are robust across the board: FHN NPAs at 1%, HWC at 0.45%; provisions are low. FHN's 15% ROTCE aligns with HWC's efficiency profile. Potential risks involve interest rate sensitivity and commercial real estate exposure, though both maintain CET1 ratios above 13%. From what I see, investor sentiment leans toward FHN for growth prospects and HWC for superior returns.
Spotting Opportunities with Tickeron’s AI Screener
In my research process, I rely on Tickeron’s AI Screener, an AI-powered tool for discovering stocks and ETFs. It lets me filter thousands of names based on technical patterns, fundamentals, trends, volatility, and AI signals—using criteria like industry, market cap, indicators, price patterns, and performance metrics. This approach uncovers trade ideas, trending stocks, breakouts, and opportunities far more efficiently than manual scans. I’ve found it particularly useful for evaluating regional banks like FHN and HWC, and it’s a staple in my workflow for staying ahead.
Tickeron AI's Take on the Pair
Tickeron AI gives HWC the edge (65% probability) over FHN, citing its superior ROTCE, higher EPS efficiency, and stronger 2026 NII guidance, even as FHN holds advantages in scale. I’m watching this closely as we approach the reports.
Disclaimer
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FHN in downward trend: price dove below 50-day moving average on May 13, 2026
FHN moved below its 50-day moving average on May 13, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend. In of 32 similar past instances, the stock price decreased further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for FHN moved out of overbought territory on April 21, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 45 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In of the 45 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at .
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on May 11, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on FHN as a result. In of 82 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for FHN turned negative on May 07, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 46 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In of the 46 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at .
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where FHN declined for three days, the price rose further in of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the oversold zone for 2 days, which means it's wise to expect a price bounce in the near future.
The 10-day moving average for FHN crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on April 14, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In of 14 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
Following a 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where FHN advanced for three days, in of 320 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
FHN may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In of 304 cases where FHN Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are .
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.319) is normal, around the industry mean (1.164). P/E Ratio (11.774) is within average values for comparable stocks, (17.082). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.000) is also within normal values, averaging (3.315). Dividend Yield (0.026) settles around the average of (0.035) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (3.489) is also within normal values, averaging (3.553).
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating fairly steady price growth. FHN’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating well-balanced risk and returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 58, placing this stock slightly worse than average.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
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a regional bank
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