Hancock Whitney (HWC) vs Bank OZK (OZK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Hancock Whitney (HWC) has outperformed Bank OZK (OZK) over the past year, gaining 15.7% versus a loss of 13.8%. Over five years, HWC leads with a +50.4% price change compared with +0.8% for OZK. Hancock Whitney is the larger company by market cap ($5.83 billion vs $4.89 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Bank OZK trades at a lower forward P/E (7.4x vs 9.9x for Hancock Whitney). Bank OZK offers the higher dividend yield (4.06% vs 2.61%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | HWC | OZK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $72.71 | $44.86 |
| Market cap | $5.83B | $4.89B |
| 1-day change | +1.49% | +2.98% |
| YTD return | +14.18% | -2.52% |
| 1-year return | +15.72% | -13.78% |
| 5-year return | +50.38% | +0.76% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.23 | 7.40 |
| Forward P/E | 9.92 | 7.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.11 | $6.06 |
| Dividend yield | 2.61% | 4.06% |
| Annual dividend | $1.90 | $1.82 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.52B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.78% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $486.07M | — |
| Net margin | 32.08% | — |
| 52-week high | $80.13 | $53.39 |
| 52-week low | $54.05 | $42.37 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.26% | -15.98% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.26% | +19.88% |
| Average volume | 818.67K | 1.21M |
| Shares outstanding | 80.22M | 109.04M |
| Employees | 3,674 | 3,286 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- HWC has outperformed OZK by 29.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Hancock Whitney trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.2x vs 7.4x trailing P/E).
- Bank OZK offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.06% vs 2.61%).
About Hancock Whitney
HWC stock →Hancock Whitney Corporation operates as the financial holding company for Hancock Whitney Bank that provides traditional and online banking services to commercial, small business, and retail customers in the United States. The company offers various transaction and savings deposit products, such as brokered deposits, time deposits, and money market accounts; treasury management services; secured and unsecured loan products, including revolving credit facilities; letters of credit and similar financial guarantees; trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations, and individuals; and investment advisory and brokerage products.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,674 employees
About Bank OZK
OZK stock →Bank OZK operates as a full-service Arkansas state-chartered bank that provides retail and commercial banking services. The company provides deposit services, including non-interest-bearing checking, interest bearing transaction, business sweep, savings, money market, individual retirement, and other accounts, as well as time and reciprocal deposits.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,286 employees
HWC vs OZK FAQ
Which is bigger, Hancock Whitney or Bank OZK?
Hancock Whitney (HWC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.83B compared with $4.89B for Bank OZK (OZK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HWC or OZK?
HWC returned +15.72% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.78% for OZK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HWC or OZK?
OZK has the lower trailing P/E at 7.4, versus 14.2 for HWC. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Hancock Whitney or Bank OZK?
Bank OZK has the higher yield at 4.06%, compared with 2.61% for Hancock Whitney.
Are Hancock Whitney and Bank OZK in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.