Christine L. Pickering, who serves on the board of Hancock Whitney Corp (NASDAQ: HWC), disposed of 1,082 shares of common stock on February 10, 2026, at $73.03 per share. The transaction generated total proceeds of $79,018.
Following that sale, Pickering's direct holding in Hancock Whitney stands at 24,134.0119 shares. That total incorporates shares acquired through the company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan since the last Form 4 filing. In addition to her direct ownership, Pickering indirectly holds 341.74 shares through a spouse's IRA.
Corporate actions and quarterly results
Separately, Hancock Whitney announced an 11.1% increase to its regular quarterly cash dividend, raising the payout by $0.05 to $0.50 per common share. The boosted dividend will be paid on March 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 5, 2026.
The bank reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that included diluted earnings per share of $1.49, narrowly exceeding the $1.48 consensus estimate. Revenues for the quarter were $389.3 million, which fell short of the expected $391.49 million.
Analyst reactions
Several firms adjusted their price targets and ratings following the earnings release. DA Davidson raised its target to $79.00 and kept a Buy rating. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased its price target to $72.00 while maintaining a Market Perform rating. Raymond James also raised its target to $79.00 and retained a Strong Buy rating. Those changes were described as reflecting positive analyst sentiment despite the revenue coming in below expectations.
Context and implications
The director's sale, the dividend increase and the mixed fourth-quarter results present a set of discrete developments for investors to weigh: an insider disposition of a modest stake, a meaningful uplift to the regular dividend payout, and earnings that slightly beat on EPS while missing on revenue. Analyst target increases indicate institutional confidence in the company's outlook even as top-line performance lagged expectations for the quarter.