Upcoming AWS Coverage on Regions Financial Post-Earnings Results

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2017 / Active Wall St. announces its post-earnings coverage on Hancock Holding Co. (NASDAQ: HBHC). The Company announced its financial results for the fourth quarter fiscal 2016 (Q4 FY16) and full year 2016 (FY16) on January 17, 2017. The Gulfport, Mississippi-based Company's diluted EPS surged on a year-over-year basis, outperforming Wall Street's estimates. Register with us now for your free membership at:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

One of Hancock Holding's competitors within the Regional - Southeast Banks space, Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF), released its fourth quarter 2016 financial results on Friday, January 20, 2017. AWS will be initiating a research report on Regions Financial in the coming days.

Today, AWS is promoting its earnings coverage on HBHC; touching on RF. Get our free coverage by signing up to:

http://www.activewallst.com/registration-3/?symbol=HBHC

http://www.activewallst.com/registration-3/?symbol=RF

Earnings Reviewed

During Q4 FY16, Hancock Holding Co.'s net interest income grew to $167.80 million in Q4 FY16 from $158.40 million in Q4 FY15. The Company's net interest income (Tax-equivalent or TE) also rose to $175.31 million in Q4 FY16 from $162.64 million in Q4 FY15. Furthermore, non-interest income increased to $65.89 million in Q4 FY16 from $59.65 million in the year ago same quarter.

The holding company for Whitney Bank and Hancock Bank reported net income of $51.83 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, in Q4 FY16 compared to $15.31 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in Q4 FY15. Wall Street had expected the Company to report adjusted earnings of $0.61 per diluted share.

In FY16, Hancock Holding Co.'s net interest income increased to $659.12 million from $625.17 million in FY15. The Company's noninterest income also improved during FY16 to $250.78 million from $237.28 million in the previous year. Furthermore, net income for the reported quarter came in at $149.30 million, or $1.87 per diluted share, compared to $131.46 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, in FY15.

Earnings Metrics

During the reported quarter, the Company's return on average assets improved to 0.88% from 0.27% in the prior year's comparable quarter. The net income available to average common equity came in at 8.19% in Q4 FY16, which was above the 2.48% reported in the year ago comparable period. The Company's efficiency ratio was 62.82% in Q4 FY16 compared to 67.63% in Q4 FY15. Net interest margin (TE) improved during Q4 FY16 to 3.26% from 3.21% in Q4 FY15. Average loan/deposit ratio also improved during Q4 FY16 to 86.31%, from 85.28% in the year ago corresponding period.

The Company's tangible common equity ratio was 8.64% at December 31, 2016, compared to 7.62% as on December 31, 2015. During Q4 FY16, return on average tangible common equity was 11.42% versus 3.53% in the prior year's same quarter.

Balance Sheet Analyzed

Hancock Holding Co.'s average loans balance at the end of Q4 FY15 was $16.32 billion compared to $15.20 billion at the end of Q4 FY15. Total average deposits as on December 31, 2016, were $18.91 billion versus $17.82 billion recorded as on December 31, 2015. The Company's provision for losses declined during the reported quarter to $14.46 million from $50.20 million in the year ago same quarter. Furthermore, the Company's exposure to energy industry totaled $1.41 billion, or 8.4% of total loans as on December 31, 2016, versus $1.58 billion, or 10% of total loans, as on December 31, 2015.

The Company had total non-performing assets of $377 million at December 31, 2016, up $46 million from September 30, 2016. Non-performing assets as a percent of total loans, ORE and other foreclosed assets, was 2.25% at December 31, 2016, up 19 bps from September 30, 2016. Furthermore, non-performing energy loan was $239 million as on December 31, 2016, up by $40 million sequentially.

Stock Performance

At the closing bell, on Monday, January 23, 2017, Hancock Holding's stock marginally rose 0.11%, ending the trading session at $44.85. A total volume of 581.54 thousand shares were traded at the end of the day. Shares of the Company rallied 4.06% in the last month, 34.34% in the past three months, and 51.84% in the previous six months. Moreover, the stock gained 4.06% since the start of the year. The stock is trading at a PE ratio of 31.63 and has a dividend yield of 2.14%.

Active Wall Street:

Active Wall Street (AWS) produces regular sponsored and non-sponsored reports, articles, stock market blogs, and popular investment newsletters covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and micro-cap stocks. AWS has two distinct and independent departments. One department produces non-sponsored analyst certified content generally in the form of press releases, articles and reports covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and the other produces sponsored content (in most cases not reviewed by a registered analyst), which typically consists of compensated investment newsletters, articles and reports covering listed stocks and micro-caps. Such sponsored content is outside the scope of procedures detailed below.

AWS has not been compensated; directly or indirectly; for producing or publishing this document.

PRESS RELEASE PROCEDURES:

The non-sponsored content contained herein has been prepared by a writer (the "Author") and is fact checked and reviewed by a third party research service company (the "Reviewer") represented by a credentialed financial analyst, for further information on analyst credentials, please email info@activewallst.com. Rohit Tuli, a CFA® charterholder (the "Sponsor"), provides necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. The Reviewer has reviewed and revised the content, as necessary, based on publicly available information which is believed to be reliable. Content is researched, written and reviewed on a reasonable-effort basis. The Reviewer has not performed any independent investigations or forensic audits to validate the information herein. The Reviewer has only independently reviewed the information provided by the Author according to the procedures outlined by AWS. AWS is not entitled to veto or interfere in the application of such procedures by the third-party research service company to the articles, documents or reports, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, any content outside of this document has no association with the Author or the Reviewer in any way.

NO WARRANTY

AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer are not responsible for any error which may be occasioned at the time of printing of this document or any error, mistake or shortcoming. No liability is accepted whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this document. AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer expressly disclaim any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Additionally, AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer do not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.

NOT AN OFFERING

This document is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated disclosures and disclaimers in full before investing. Neither AWS nor any party affiliated with us is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with any agency or in any jurisdiction whatsoever. To download our report(s), read our disclosures, or for more information, visit http://www.activewallst.com/disclaimer/.

CONTACT

For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly. If you're a company we are covering and wish to no longer feature on our coverage list contact us via email and/or phone between 09:30 EDT to 16:00 EDT from Monday to Friday at:

Email: info@activewallst.com

Phone number: 1-858-257-3144

Office Address: 3rd floor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH, United Kingdom

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

SOURCE: Active Wall Street