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HWC vs WTFC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) vs. Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) and Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) are both regional banks with strong profitability margins above 30%.
- WTFC boasts a larger market capitalization of approximately $10 billion compared to HWC's $5.7 billion, reflecting greater scale.
- HWC has delivered a year-to-date return of about 9.7%, outperforming WTFC's 6.8% amid recent market activity.
- WTFC reported a strong Q1 2026 earnings beat, with EPS of $3.22 surpassing estimates, boosting recent momentum.
- Both stocks trade at comparable forward P/E ratios around 12-13, indicating similar valuations relative to earnings.
- Investor interest in regional banks like these persists due to net interest income (NII, revenue from loans minus deposit costs) recovery in a stabilizing rate environment.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines HWC and WTFC, two regional banking peers operating in the U.S. financial services sector. Both companies provide community-focused banking, including commercial loans, deposits, and wealth management, making them relevant for investors tracking regional bank performance amid interest rate fluctuations and economic shifts. Traders seeking relative performance insights, such as momentum, valuation, and sector exposure, will find value here, particularly as recent earnings and market positioning highlight contrasts in growth trajectories and risk profiles. This analysis draws on verifiable data to aid informed decision-making in today's market environment.
HWC Overview and Recent Performance
Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) is a financial holding company headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, primarily serving the Gulf South region through its bank subsidiary. It offers traditional banking products like deposits, loans, and online services to commercial, small business, and retail customers. In recent market activity, HWC shares have shown resilience, trading around $69 with a year-to-date gain of nearly 10%. The stock benefited from a solid Q4 2025 earnings report in January 2026, where EPS of $1.49 exceeded expectations, driven by fee income growth and controlled expenses. Sentiment has been supported by a 2.67% dividend yield and discussions around attractive valuations near a P/E of 12.2, though broader sector pressures on net interest income (NII) have tempered gains in recent weeks.
WTFC Overview and Recent Performance
Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC), based in Rosemont, Illinois, operates as a community-oriented bank holding company with over 180 branches across the Midwest. It focuses on commercial, retail, and wealth management services, emphasizing relationship banking. Recently, WTFC shares have traded near $149, with year-to-date returns around 7%. A key catalyst emerged from its Q1 2026 earnings on April 20, reporting record quarterly results including EPS of $3.22, beating consensus by 9%, and revenue up 11% year-over-year. This performance, fueled by strong loan growth and expense discipline, has lifted sentiment, despite earlier concerns over revenue deceleration. The stock's P/E stands at about 13, with analysts noting upside potential amid stabilizing rates.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both HWC and WTFC operate similar community banking models, emphasizing loan origination and deposit gathering in regional U.S. markets—HWC in the Gulf South and WTFC in the Midwest—exposing them to comparable interest rate sensitivity and credit risks. Growth drivers differ: WTFC reports higher revenue ($2.6B TTM vs. $1.5B) and EPS, supported by broader diversification into wealth management, while HWC excels in return on equity efficiency. Recent momentum favors WTFC post-earnings, but HWC leads YTD. Risk factors include non-performing loans (NCO, charge-offs) and margin compression, with WTFC's lower beta (0.86 vs. 1.03) suggesting relative stability. Market sentiment tilts toward scale advantages at WTFC, trading at a slight valuation premium.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward WTFC with moderate confidence, based on superior trend consistency from its recent earnings catalyst, larger asset base providing diversification, and positioning for NII expansion in a potential rate pause. While HWC offers value via lower P/E and solid YTD performance, WTFC's momentum and scale present a probabilistic edge in the near term, subject to evolving economic data.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is HWC is a Hold and WTFC is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
HWC’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileWTFC’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- HWC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- WTFC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
HWC’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WTFC’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HWC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WTFC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
HWC (@Regional Banks) experienced а -1.80% price change this week, while WTFC (@Regional Banks) price change was -1.12% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Regional Banks industry was -0.10%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.29%, and the average quarterly price growth was +10.68%.
Reported Earning Dates
HWC is expected to report earnings on Jul 21, 2026.
WTFC is expected to report earnings on Jul 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Regional Banks (-0.10% weekly)Regional banks have a smaller reach than major banks, and cater mostly to one region of a country, such as a state or within a group of states. They offer services often similar – albeit with some limitations/smaller scale – compared to major banks. Taking deposits, making loans, mortgages, leases, credit cards , fund management, insurance and investment banking. SunTrust Banks, State Street Corp., M&T Bank Corp. are some examples of U.S. regional banks.
| HWC | WTFC | HWC / WTFC | |
| Capitalization | 5.7B | 10.4B | 55% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | 11.950 | 11.022 | 108% |
| P/E Ratio | 14.45 | 12.92 | 112% |
| Revenue | 1.44B | 2.8B | 51% |
| Total Cash | 556M | 468M | 119% |
| Total Debt | 1.68B | 4.34B | 39% |
HWC | WTFC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 29 | 20 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 46 Fair valued | 70 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 39 | 24 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 23 | 15 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 46 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 22 | 43 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HWC's Valuation (46) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as WTFC (70). This means that HWC’s stock grew similarly to WTFC’s over the last 12 months.
WTFC's Profit vs Risk Rating (24) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as HWC (39). This means that WTFC’s stock grew similarly to HWC’s over the last 12 months.
WTFC's SMR Rating (15) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as HWC (23). This means that WTFC’s stock grew similarly to HWC’s over the last 12 months.
HWC's Price Growth Rating (45) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as WTFC (46). This means that HWC’s stock grew similarly to WTFC’s over the last 12 months.
HWC's P/E Growth Rating (22) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as WTFC (43). This means that HWC’s stock grew similarly to WTFC’s over the last 12 months.
| HWC | WTFC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 59% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 78% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 72% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 63% | 3 days ago 60% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 64% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 62% | 9 days ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 66% | 20 days ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 62% |
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WTFC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WTFC has been closely correlated with FNB. These tickers have moved in lockstep 90% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if WTFC jumps, then FNB could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To WTFC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTFC | 100% | +0.10% | ||
| FNB - WTFC | 90% Closely correlated | +0.72% | ||
| ASB - WTFC | 87% Closely correlated | +0.90% | ||
| HWC - WTFC | 86% Closely correlated | +0.67% | ||
| ZION - WTFC | 86% Closely correlated | +0.03% | ||
| FULT - WTFC | 86% Closely correlated | +0.93% | ||
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