Why Hancock Whitney (HWC) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - Hancock Whitney (HWC) is headquartered in Gulfport and has experienced a price change of 10.14% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.4 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.65%, which is higher than the Southeast banking industry's yield of 2.22% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of Hancock Whitney is$ 1.60, reflecting a 6.7% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend two times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 7.74% [4] - The current payout ratio is 30%, indicating that the company pays out 30% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Hancock Whitney anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $5.43 per share, representing a 2.07% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - Hancock Whitney is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [7]