Hancock Whitney Initiated at Overweight by Barclays

(17:47 GMT) Hancock Whitney Price Target Raised to $65.00/Share From $64.00 by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

LendingTree, Inc.’s TREE third-quarter 2025 adjusted net income per share of $1.70 topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.23 per share. The figure compares favorably with the 80 cents reported in the prior-year quarter

Results were driven by a rise in revenues. An increase in adjusted EBITDA was an added positive. However, a rise in total cost was a spoilsport.

Results exclude certain non-recurring items. After considering these, TREE reported a GAAP net income of $10.2 million against the net loss of $58 million in the year-ago quarter.

TREE’s Revenues, Variable Marketing Margin Increase

Total revenues in the third quarter grew 18% year over year to $307.8 million. The reported figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.5%.

The total cost of revenues was $11 million, up 17.5% from the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA totaled $39.8 million, up 47.9% from the year-ago quarter. The variable marketing margin was $93.2 million, up 20.7% year over year.

As of Sept. 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $68.6 million compared with $149.1 million as of June 30. Long-term debt was $388.4 million compared with $385.1 million as of June 30, 2025.

LendingTree’s Outlook

The company provided the fourth-quarter view and updated its 2025 outlook.

Q4

For the fourth quarter of 2025, total revenues are estimated to be between $280 million and $290 million.

Adjusted EBITDA and the variable marketing margin are anticipated to be $29.5-$31.5 million and $82-$85 million, respectively.

2025

For 2025, total revenues are expected to be between $1.08 billion and $1.09 billion compared with the prior mentioned $1.0-$1.05 billion.

Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be in the range of $126-$128 million compared with the previously stated $119-$126 million.

The variable marketing margin is expected to be in the range of $337-$340 million compared with the $329-$336 million mentioned previously.

Our View on LendingTree

TREE’s inorganic growth moves have strengthened its online lending platform. Its third-quarter results primarily benefited from an increase in EBITDA. The company’s efforts to increase revenues by diversifying its non-mortgage product offerings will support top-line growth in the future.

LendingTree, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

LendingTree, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | LendingTree, Inc. Quote

Currently, LendingTree carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Performance of Other Finance Stocks

Hancock Whitney Corp.’s HWC third-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.49 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41. Further, the bottom line rose 12% from the prior-year quarter.

HWC’s results benefited from an increase in non-interest income and NII, alongside lower provisions. Also, higher loans were another positive. However, higher adjusted expenses and lower deposit balances were headwinds.

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation’s BK third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $1.91 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.76. Also, the bottom line reflected a jump of 25.7% from the prior-year quarter.

Results were primarily aided by a rise in fee revenues and NII. BNY Mellon recorded a provision benefit in the quarter, which was a tailwind. Growth in assets under custody and/or administration further supported the results. However, higher expenses and a lower assets under management balance were the undermining factors for BK.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Company Has Paid an Uninterrupted Quarterly Dividend Since 1967

GULFPORT, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 23, 2025--

Hancock Whitney Corporation announced today that the company's board of directors approved a regular fourth quarter 2025 common stock cash dividend of $0.45 per share.

The regular quarterly common stock cash dividend is payable December 15, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 5, 2025.

About Hancock Whitney

Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; and mortgage services. The company also operates combined loan and deposit production offices in the greater metropolitan areas of Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251023506739/en/

CONTACT: For more information

Kathryn Shrout Mistich, VP, Investor Relations Manager

504.539.7836 or kathryn.mistich@hancockwhitney.com

Commerce Bancshares Inc.’s CBSH third-quarter 2025 earnings of $1.06 per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09. Nevertheless, the bottom line rose 3.9% from the prior-year quarter.

Results benefited from a rise in net interest income (NII) and non-interest income. An increase in loan balances was also a tailwind. However, increased provisions and higher expenses were headwinds.

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $141.5 million, up 2.5% year over year. Our estimate for the metric was $140.3 million.

CBSH’s Revenues Improve, Expenses Rise

Total revenues were $440.9 million, up 4.6% year over year. The top line outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $433.8 million.

NII was $279.4 million, rising 6.5% from the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for NII was $273.6 million.

Net yield on interest-earning assets expanded 14 basis points (bps) to 3.64%. Our estimate for the metric was 3.71%.

Non-interest income was $161.5 million, up 1.5% year over year. The rise was driven by an increase in almost all components, except for bank card transaction fees, capital market fees and other non-interest income. Our estimate for non-interest income was $160.3 million.

Non-interest expenses increased 2.7% year over year to $244 million. The rise was due to an increase in almost all cost components except for marketing, supplies and communication, and other expenses. We had projected expenses of $244.5 million.

Investment securities gains were $7.9 million compared with $3.9 million from the prior-year quarter.

The efficiency ratio declined to 55.26% from 56.31% in the year-ago quarter. A fall in the efficiency ratio indicates an improvement in profitability.

CBSH’s Loan Balances Rise, Deposits Decline

As of Sept. 30, 2025, net loans were $17.61 billion, up slightly from the prior quarter. Total deposits were $25.46 billion, which declined marginally on a sequential basis. Our estimates for net loans and total deposits were $17.41 billion and $25.83 billion, respectively.

Commerce Bancshares’ Asset Quality Worsens

Provision for credit losses was $20.1 million, which soared substantially from the prior-year quarter’s $9.1 million. Our estimate for the metric was $6.9 million.

The allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans was 0.99%, increasing 5 bps year over year. The ratio of annualized net loan charge-offs to total average loans was 0.23%, up from 0.22% in the prior-year quarter.

Non-accrual loans to total loans were 0.09%, down from the prior-year quarter’s 0.11%.

CBSH’s Capital Ratios Improve, Profitability Ratios Decline

As of Sept. 30, 2025, the Tier I leverage ratio was 12.95%, up from 12.31% in the year-ago quarter. Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio increased to 11.27% from the prior-year quarter’s 10.47%.

At the third-quarter end, the return on total average assets was 1.78%, down from the year-ago period’s 1.80%. Return on average equity was 15.26% compared with 16.81% in the prior-year quarter.

CBSH’s Share Repurchase Update

In the reported quarter, the company repurchased 0.42 million shares at an average price of $60.32.

Our Take on Commerce Bancshares

CBSH’s revenues are expected to be driven by decent loan demand and its balance sheet repositioning strategy. Its efforts to bolster fee income are encouraging. However, rising expenses and deteriorating asset quality remain near-term headwinds.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Quote

Currently, Commerce Bancshares carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Performance of Other Banks

Hancock Whitney Corp.’s HWC third-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.49 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41. Further, the bottom line rose 12% from the prior year quarter.

HWC’s results benefited from a rise in NII and non-interest income. An increase in loan balances was also a tailwind. However, increased provisions and higher expenses were headwinds.

First Horizon Corporation’s FHN third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (excluding notable items) of 51 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 45 cents. This compares favorably with 42 cents in the year-ago quarter.

The results of FHN benefited from a rise in NII and non-interest income, along with provision benefits. However, a decline in loan and deposit balances acted as a headwind.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research