Hancock Whitney Corporation (Nasdaq: HWC) today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Net income for the second quarter of 2022 totaled $121.4 million, or $1.38 per diluted common share (EPS), compared to $123.5 million, or $1.40 per diluted common share, in the first quarter of 2022. The company reported net income for the second quarter of 2021 of $88.7 million, or $1.00 per diluted common share. The second quarter of 2022 did not include any nonoperating items, while the second quarter of 2021 included $42.2 million, or $0.37 per share after tax, of net nonoperating expenses.

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights

• Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) totaled $146.9 million, up $12.4 million, or 9%, linked-quarter
• Core loan growth of $706.2 million, or 13% linked-quarter annualized (LQA), more than offset the impact of $183.5 million in PPP loan forgiveness, leading to an overall increase in total loans of $522.7 million
• Nonperforming loans and criticized commercial loans remain at historically low levels
• ACL coverage remained strong at 1.55%
• Deposits decreased $633.3 million, or 8% LQA
• NIM improved 23 basis points (bps) to 3.04%
• CET1 ratio estimated at 11.06%, down 6 bps; TCE ratio 7.21%, up 6 bps
• Achieved 55% efficiency ratio target (54.95%)

“Today’s results reflect another solid quarter and the early achievement of our target efficiency ratio of 55%,” said John M. Hairston, President and CEO. “As expected, upward rate movement was a tailwind and helped us achieve our efficiency target sooner than expected. Earning assets repriced our NIM back over 3% in the quarter, and we anticipate additional widening in the second half of this year. Loan growth exceeded our expectations, and we were able to deploy excess liquidity via organic growth. We observed an expected runoff in deposits due primarily to seasonality, spending of federal grant funds, with modest pressure from competitive rates, however, the mix remained favorable with almost half in DDAs. Pre-provision, net revenue (PPNR) was up $12 million in the quarter as improvement in net interest income and fees offset an expected increase in expenses. Credit continued improvement and ratios remain at historically low levels, with criticized and nonperforming loans declining and net recoveries in the quarter. Capital remains solid and we believe we are positioned well in today’s uncertain macro environment.”

Loans

Total loans were $21.8 billion at June 30, 2022, up $522.7 million from March 31, 2022. Core loans increased $706.2 million, up 13% LQA, from March 31, 2022, more than offsetting the impact of $183.5 million in PPP loan forgiveness. Improving line utilization contributed to loan growth in all markets across our footprint. Healthcare, C&I, real estate and mortgage were the main drivers within our lines of business, while indirect lending continues to amortize. Approximately $150 million of the loan growth during the quarter came from new bankers in expansion markets within our footprint, such as Beaumont, Dallas, San Antonio (TX) and Jackson (MS). Average loans totaled $21.7 billion for the second quarter of 2022, up $535.5 million, or 3%, linked-quarter.

Our guidance for the year of 6%-8% core growth in 2022 is unchanged, with a bias towards the upper end of the range. We expect loan growth to moderate in the third quarter of 2022 with a rebound towards the end of the year.

Deposits

Total deposits at June 30, 2022 were $29.9 billion, down $633.3 million, or 2%, from March 31, 2022. During the quarter, seasonal tax outflows in public funds, consumer clients tax payments, liquidity spending and moving for higher rates, and commercial clients converting cash on their balance sheet into working capital were primary drivers of the decrease.

DDAs totaled $14.7 billion at June 30, 2022, down $300.3 million, or 2%, from March 31, 2022 and comprised almost half (49%) of total period-end deposits. Interest-bearing transaction and savings deposits totaled $11.3 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of $126.7 million, or 1%, linked-quarter. Compared to March 31, 2022, time deposits of $972.2 million were down $75.6 million, or 7%. Interest-bearing public fund deposits decreased $130.6 million, or 4%, linked-quarter, ending June 30, 2022 at $2.9 billion.

Average deposits for the second quarter of 2022 were $30.0 billion, down $49.9 million, or less than 1%, linked-quarter. Management expects 2022 period-end deposit levels to remain flat to slightly down compared to year-end 2021.

Asset Quality

The total allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $339.5 million at June 30, 2022, down $9.1 million from March 31, 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, the company recorded a negative provision for credit losses of $9.8 million, compared to a negative provision of $22.5 million in the first quarter of 2022. There were $0.7 million of net recoveries in the second quarter of 2022, or (0.01%) of average total loans on an annualized basis, compared to net charge-offs of $0.3 million, or 0.01% of average total loans in the first quarter of 2022. The ratio of ACL to period-end loans was 1.55% (1.56% excluding PPP loans) at June 30, 2022, compared to 1.63% (1.66% excluding PPP loans) at March 31, 2022.

The company’s overall asset quality metrics continued to improve and currently sit at historically low levels, with commercial criticized and total nonperforming loans down slightly, linked-quarter. Nonperforming assets (NPAs) totaled $44.0 million at June 30, 2022, down $7.7 million, or 15%, from March 31, 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, total nonperforming loans decreased $4.8 million, or 11%, while ORE and foreclosed assets were down $2.9 million, or 45% linked-quarter. Nonperforming assets as a percent of total loans, ORE and other foreclosed assets was 0.20% at June 30, 2022, down 4 bps from March 31, 2022.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin (NIM)

Net interest income (TE) for the second quarter of 2022 was $248.3 million, an increase of $17.3 million, or 7%, from the first quarter of 2022.

The net interest margin (NIM) (TE) was 3.04% in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 23 bps linked-quarter. Changes related to recent Fed increase in rates and a shift in the mix of earning assets led to a 27 basis point improvement, slightly offset by the impact from the forgiveness of $183.5 million in PPP loans (-2 bps) and change in cost of deposits (-2 bps). Additional NIM detail and guidance can be found in the second quarter earnings investor deck.

Average earning assets were $32.8 billion for the second quarter of 2022, down $421.1 million, or 1%, from the first quarter of 2022.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income totaled $85.7 million for the second quarter of 2022, up $2.2 million, or 3%, from the first quarter of 2022.

Service charges on deposits were down $1.2 million, or 5%, from the first quarter of 2022. The decline in service charges is related to lower net nonsufficient funds (NSF) and overdraft (OD) fees.

Bankcard and ATM fees were up $1.5 million, or 7%, from the first quarter of 2022. Investment and annuity income and insurance fees were up $0.6 million, or 8%, linked-quarter. Trust fees were up $2.0 million, or 13% linked-quarter.

Fees from secondary mortgage operations totaled $3.0 million for the second quarter of 2022, down $0.8 million, or 20%, linked-quarter. Management expects the lower level of secondary mortgage fees to continue as rates continue to rise.

Other noninterest income totaled $15.0 million, virtually unchanged from the first quarter of 2022.

Noninterest Expense & Taxes

Noninterest expense totaled $187.1 million, up $7.2 million, or 4% linked-quarter.

Personnel expense totaled $115.2 million in the second quarter of 2022, up $7.8 million, or 7%, linked-quarter. The increase was due to annual merit raises and higher incentive pay, coupled with an increase in associate headcount, an additional workday in the quarter and continued inflationary pressures.

Occupancy and equipment expense totaled $16.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, up $0.4 million, or 2%, from the first quarter of 2022. Amortization of intangibles totaled $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2022, down $0.2 million, or 4%, linked-quarter.

Gains on sales of ORE and other foreclosed assets exceeded expenses by $88 thousand in the second quarter of 2022, and $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2022. Other operating expense totaled $51.5 million in the second quarter of 2022, down $2.5 million, or 5%, linked-quarter.

The effective income tax rate for second quarter 2022 was 21.2%.

Capital

Common stockholders’ equity at June 30, 2022 totaled $3.3 billion, down $101.2 million, or 3%, from March 31, 2022. The tangible common equity (TCE) ratio was 7.21%, up 6 bps from March 31, 2022. The company’s CET1 ratio is estimated to be 11.06% at June 30, 2022, down 6 bps linked-quarter. During the second quarter of 2022, the company repurchased 804,368 shares of its common stock at an average price of $47.21 per share. This stock repurchase is part of the Board authorization to repurchase up to 4,338,000 shares of the company’s common stock, set to expire December 31, 2022. To-date the company has repurchased 1,604,244 shares under this authorization.

Conference Call and Slide Presentation

Management will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 4:00 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 to review these results. A live listen-only webcast of the call will be available under the Investor Relations section of Hancock Whitney’s website at investors.hancockwhitney.com. A link to the release with additional financial tables, and a link to a slide presentation related to second quarter results are also posted as part of the webcast link. To participate in the Q&A portion of the call, dial 844-200-6205 or 646-904-5544, access code 357079.

An audio archive of the conference call will be available under the Investor Relations section of our website. A replay of the call will also be available through July 26, 2022 by dialing 866-813-9403 or 929-458-6194, access code 467005.

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; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes non-GAAP financial measures to describe Hancock Whitney’s performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently. The reconciliations of those measures to GAAP measures are provided either in the financial tables or in Appendix A thereto.

Consistent with the provisions of subpart 229.1400 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation S-K, “Disclosures by Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants,” the company presents net interest income, net interest margin and efficiency ratios on a fully taxable equivalent (“TE”) basis. The TE basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments using the statutory federal tax rate to increase tax-exempt interest income to a taxable equivalent basis. The company believes this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources.

The company presents certain additional non-GAAP financial measures to assist the reader with a better understanding of the company’s performance period over period, as well as to provide investors with assistance in understanding the success management has experienced in executing its strategic initiatives. These non-GAAP measures may reference the concept “operating.” The company uses the term “operating” to describe a financial measure that excludes income or expense considered to be nonoperating in nature. Items identified as nonoperating are those that, when excluded from a reported financial measure, provide management or the reader with a measure that may be more indicative of forward-looking trends in the company’s business.

Important Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements that we may make include statements regarding our expectations of our performance and financial condition, balance sheet and revenue growth, the provision for credit losses, loan growth expectations, management’s predictions about charge-offs for loans, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and our operations, the impacts related to Russia’s military action in Ukraine, Federal Reserve action with respect to interest rates, the adequacy of our enterprise risk management framework, potential claims, damages, penalties, fines and reputational damage resulting from pending or future litigation, regulatory proceedings and enforcement actions; the ongoing impact of future business combinations on our performance and financial condition, including our ability to successfully integrate the businesses, success of revenue-generating and cost reduction initiatives, the effectiveness of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities to manage risks, projected tax rates, increased cybersecurity risks, including potential business disruptions or financial losses, the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting, the financial impact of regulatory requirements and tax reform legislation, the impact of the change in the referenced rate reform, deposit trends, credit quality trends, the impact of natural or man-made disasters, the impact of PPP loans and forgiveness on our results, changes in interest rates, inflation, net interest margin trends, future expense levels, future profitability, improvements in expense to revenue (efficiency) ratio, purchase accounting impacts, accretion levels and expected returns.

In addition, any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “forecast,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “focus,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook,” or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could.” Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement made in this release is subject to the safe harbor protections set forth in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in other periodic reports that we file with the SEC.

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