Hancock Whitney, the Gulfport-based holding company of Whitney Bank and Hancock Bank, is highlighted as a top dividend stock, currently paying $0.50 per share with a dividend yield of 2.69%. This yield exceeds the Banks - Southeast industry average of 2.03% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.41%. The company's annualized dividend of $2.00 represents an 11.1% increase from last year, and over the past five years it has raised its dividend three times for an average annual increase of 11.55%. Hancock Whitney's payout ratio stands at 34% of trailing twelve-month earnings per share, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $6.47 per share, implying 13.11% growth from the prior year. The stock carries a Zacks Rank of #2, or Buy.
Hancock Whitney CorpArticle highlights Hancock Whitney's strong dividend yield, growth, and low payout ratio, with a Zacks Buy rating.