Hancock Whitney (HWC) ZACKS·2025-04-22 17:00Core Viewpoint - Hancock Whitney (HWC) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the correlation between changes in earnings estimates and stock price movements, suggesting that rising earnings estimates can lead to increased stock prices [4][6]. - Hancock Whitney is projected to earn $5.46 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 2.6% [8]. Analyst Sentiment and Market Position - Analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Hancock Whitney, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 4.1% over the past three months [8]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Hancock Whitney in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].