Hancock Whitney Corporation’s board approved a new share repurchase program that allows the company to buy back up to 5 % of its outstanding common stock as of December 31 2025. The program is effective January 1 2026 and will expire on December 31 2026, replacing a prior buyback plan that had been fully utilized in the fourth quarter of 2025 and had the same expiration date.
The new authorization gives the company flexibility to repurchase shares through open‑market purchases, block trades, accelerated share repurchase plans, or private negotiations, depending on market conditions and regulatory requirements. The prior program had 4.3 million shares available for purchase; all of those shares were bought back in Q4 2025, demonstrating the board’s willingness to deploy capital when it believes the shares are undervalued.
Hancock Whitney’s most recent quarterly results provide context for the new program. In Q3 2025 the company reported an adjusted earnings per share of $1.49, beating the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.06. Revenue of $385 million fell short of the $391.32 million forecast, a miss of $6.32 million. Net income rose to $127.5 million from $113.5 million in Q2 2025, and the company’s net interest margin remained steady at 3.49 %. These results were driven by disciplined cost control, a 2 % increase in loan balances, and a 5 % decline in deposits that helped keep interest expense in check.
Management highlighted the strategic rationale behind the new buyback. President and CEO John Hairston said the program “reinforces our commitment to returning value to shareholders while we continue to invest in growth.” Chief Financial Officer Mike Achary added that the company is “focused on cost discipline and efficient capital deployment” and that the buyback will help support the share price and enhance earnings per share.
The program signals confidence in Hancock Whitney’s capital position and its ability to generate excess cash. By authorizing a new buyback, the board demonstrates that it believes the shares are undervalued and that returning capital to shareholders is a prudent use of resources. The move also aligns with the company’s disciplined capital‑allocation framework, balancing growth initiatives with shareholder returns, and is expected to support the share price and EPS in the coming year.
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