HWCPZ — Hancock Whitney Corporation - 6

Summary of Hancock Whitney Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Call

1. Key Financial Results and Metrics

• Adjusted ROA: 1.43%
• ROTCE: 14.64%
• Earnings Per Share (EPS): $1.52, up from $1.49 in Q4 2025 and a 10% increase year-over-year.
• Net Interest Margin (NIM): Expanded by 7 basis points to 3.55%.
• Net Income: $125 million, slightly down from $126 million in Q4 2025.
• Loan Growth: Increased by $33 million (1% annualized), with total loan production at $1.2 billion.
• Deposits: Decreased by $198 million (3% annualized), primarily due to seasonal public fund outflows.
• Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio: 13.3%, with a tangible common equity ratio of 9.93%.

2. Strategic Updates and Business Highlights

• Welcomed 27 net new revenue producers, enhancing the bank's capacity for growth.
• Continued focus on managing expenses, with a slight 1% increase in costs attributed to seasonal payroll taxes.
• Successful bond portfolio restructuring completed in January, contributing positively to NIM.
• Strong fee income performance, particularly in treasury and business service charges.
• Ongoing investments in treasury management and payment capabilities to enhance competitiveness.

3. Forward Guidance and Outlook

• Loan Growth Guidance: Mid-single digits for the year, with expectations for improved growth in the latter half of 2026.
• Deposits Guidance: Anticipated to increase by low single digits from 2025 levels.
• NIM Guidance: Expected to see further expansion, with a target range of 12-15 basis points for the year.
• Capital Management: Plans to continue share repurchases and increase dividends, with a focus on maintaining strong capital ratios.

4. Bad News, Challenges, or Points of Concern

• Loan Growth Challenges: Q1 loan growth was impacted by seasonal paydowns and a decrease in loan production compared to the previous quarter.
• Deposit Declines: Notable decrease in deposits due to public fund outflows, with concerns about maintaining deposit levels.
• Market Volatility: Ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices could impact borrower sentiment and overall economic conditions.
• Competitive Pressures: Maintaining loan yields in a competitive environment remains a challenge, with potential impacts on net interest income.

5. Notable Q&A Insights

• Loan Growth Confidence: Management expressed confidence in achieving mid-single-digit loan growth, citing strong pipelines and new banker hires as key drivers.
• Fee Income Variability: Specialty income remains unpredictable, with expectations for continued contributions from SBA and syndication fees.
• CET1 Ratio Targets: Management indicated a target CET1 ratio of 12-12.5% by the end of 2028, emphasizing organic growth as a priority for capital deployment.
• Impact of New Hires: New bankers are expected to contribute significantly to loan growth, with a focus on business banking and commercial lending.
• Market Sentiment: Clients are currently cautious but optimistic, with ongoing monitoring of economic indicators and potential impacts from external geopolitical events.

This summary encapsulates Hancock Whitney Corporation's Q1 2026 earnings call, highlighting financial performance, strategic initiatives, and both positive and negative outlooks for the future.