Hancock Whitney (HWC) vs Valley National Bancorp (VLY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Valley National Bancorp (VLY) has outperformed Hancock Whitney (HWC) over the past year, gaining 15.2% versus a gain of 13.6%. Over five years, HWC leads with a +48.2% price change compared with -8.4% for VLY. Valley National Bancorp is the larger company by market cap ($6.90 billion vs $5.75 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Valley National Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (8.1x vs 9.8x for Hancock Whitney). Valley National Bancorp offers the higher dividend yield (3.53% vs 2.65%). Hancock Whitney converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 32.1% versus 29.5%.
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 | VLY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $71.64 | $12.48 |
| Market cap | $5.75B | $6.90B |
| 1-day change | -1.49% | -1.50% |
| YTD return | +12.50% | +6.85% |
| 1-year return | +13.62% | +15.24% |
| 5-year return | +48.17% | -8.37% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.02 | 10.58 |
| Forward P/E | 9.78 | 8.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.11 | $1.18 |
| Dividend yield | 2.65% | 3.53% |
| Annual dividend | $1.90 | $0.44 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.52B | $2.03B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.78% | +9.31% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $486.07M | $597.98M |
| Net margin | 32.08% | 29.52% |
| 52-week high | $80.13 | $15.20 |
| 52-week low | $54.05 | $9.64 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.60% | -17.89% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.99% | +32.21% |
| Average volume | 821.48K | 6.85M |
| Shares outstanding | 80.22M | 552.61M |
| Employees | 3,674 | 3,675 |
| 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
- Hancock Whitney trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.0x vs 10.6x trailing P/E).
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 Valley National Bancorp
VLY stock →Valley National Bancorp operates as the holding company for Valley National Bank that provides various commercial, private banking, retail, insurance, and wealth management financial services products. The company operates through Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Corporate other segments.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,675 employees
HWC vs VLY FAQ
Which is bigger, Hancock Whitney or Valley National Bancorp?
Valley National Bancorp (VLY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.90B compared with $5.75B for Hancock Whitney (HWC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HWC or VLY?
VLY returned +15.24% over the past 12 months, compared with +13.62% for HWC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HWC or VLY?
VLY has the lower trailing P/E at 10.6, versus 14.0 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 Valley National Bancorp?
Valley National Bancorp has the higher yield at 3.53%, compared with 2.65% for Hancock Whitney.
Are Hancock Whitney and Valley National Bancorp in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.