HWC vs SFNC

For growth investors, Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) is the stronger pick with -1.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) offers the better valuation at 12. 0x trailing P/E (10. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) a "Buy" — based on 23 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Simmons First National Corporation is actually cheaper at 10.

3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) delivered a total return of +52.

2%, compared to -15. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HWC returned +223. 3% versus SFNC's +25. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

02β versus Hancock Whitney Corporation's 1. 14β — meaning HWC is approximately 11% more volatile than SFNC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 30% for Hancock Whitney Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) is pulling ahead at -1.

5% versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hancock Whitney Corporation grew EPS 7. 6% year-over-year, compared to -343. 8% for Simmons First National Corporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) is the more profitable company, earning 24.

1% net margin versus -63. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation — meaning it keeps 24. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HWC leads at 31. 0% versus -84. 2% for SFNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HWC leads at 73. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) trades at 10.

3x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for Hancock Whitney Corporation — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HWC: 14. 2% to $77. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 2. 7% for Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

14), 2. 7% yield, +223. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HWC: +223. 3%, SFNC: +25. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: HWC is a small-cap deep-value stock; SFNC is a small-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.