Dernières nouvelles pour Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:WTFC) Stock

Wintrust Finl

Wintrust Financial Corp is a financial holding company operating in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin through its wholly-owned banking subsidiaries. Wintrust conducts its business through three segments: community banking, specialty finance, and wealth management. Among other services, the company provides community-oriented, personal, and commercial banking, as well as the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market. A majority of its banks are banks chartered by the state of Illinois with scores of locations. The company has historically grown through both de novo organization and acquisitions. A majority of its loan portfolio is commercial, mostly in real estate. A majority of Wintrust's net revenue is net interest income.

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Common Stock

Wintrust Financial Corp

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of 6.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E

The third-quarter earnings season for U.S. banks will officially kick off this Friday, with major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Wells Fargo Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) set <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41216873/us-banks-earnings-preview-soft-landing-hopes-interest-rate-cuts-key-catalysts-for-stocks">to report their results. </a>
The following Tuesday will see additional earnings releases from mega-cap players such as Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Goldman Sachs Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), as well as some regional banks.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Banking Sector Performance So Far In 2024</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="447" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09104754/image-66-1024x447.png" alt="" class="wp-image-587909" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09104754/image-66-1024x447.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09104754/image-66-300x131.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09104754/image-66-768x336.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09104754/image-66-1536x671.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09104754/image-66.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chart:<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> Benzinga Pro</a></figcaption></figure>
Thus far, in 2024, the banking sector has shown strong performance. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>), which tracks major financial stocks, has risen 21% year-to-date, matching the performance of the broader market as represented by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>).
However, regional banks have lagged behind their larger counterparts. The SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) is up just 6% year-to-date, though it has outperformed over the past three months. This recent rebound is largely due to falling inflation and increasing expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
With earnings season approaching, the question on many investors&#8217; minds is whether large banks will maintain their positive performance gap over regional players or if recent market developments will impact their results and outlooks. 
Here&#8217;s what Wall Street analysts are saying ahead of the bank earnings season.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Analyst Expectations And Top Picks</h3>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">RBC Capital Markets – Gerard Cassidy, co-head of global financials research</h4>
&#8220;We believe the set-up looks very good for banks over the next 12-18 months. We expect the Federal Reserve to cut short-term interest rates by 200-250 basis points over this period, and the finalization of the Basel III &#8216;endgame&#8217; proposal will allow banks to return excess capital through buybacks and dividends. We continue to recommend an overweight position in bank stocks.&#8221;
<ul>
<li>Top Picks (RBC holds earnings per share estimates for both above Street consensus for the third quarter)
<ul>
<li>Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>)</li>
<li>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. – Anthony Elian, CFA</h4>
&#8220;As the Federal Reserve reduces rates, several industry headwinds could turn into tailwinds.&#8221; This includes:
<ol>
<li>Lower deposit costs, improving net interest margins (NIMs)</li>
<li>An uptick in commercial loan demand</li>
<li>Easing credit quality concerns, particularly for banks with commercial real estate (CRE) exposure</li>
<li>A resumption of buyback programs as reserves are released</li>
<li>Increased exit market and venture capital activity.</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Top Picks:
<ul>
<li>First Citizens Bancshares Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NYSE">FCNCA</a>)</li>
<li>Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAL#NYSE">WAL</a>)</li>
<li>Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNFP#NASDAQ">PNFP</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Wedbush Securities – David J. Chiaverini, CFA</h4>
&#8220;We expect mixed trends for banks in Q3, with modest loan and deposit growth, stabilizing deposit mix shifts, and NIMs benefiting from fixed asset repricing. Some banks will be more positively positioned than others in this environment.&#8221;
<ul>
<li>Top Picks:
<ul>
<li>M&amp;T Bank Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</li>
<li>Wintrust Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</li>
<li>Columbia Banking Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COLB#NASDAQ">COLB</a>) Wedbush believes Columbia Banking Systems will benefit from a lower rate environment as it is liability-sensitive, unlike most banks that are asset-sensitive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bank of America – Ebrahim H. Poonawala</h4>
&#8220;We favor regional banks over large money centers heading into Q3, given better net interest income (NII) defensibility and greater capital relief as mark-to-market losses on bond books decrease. Our top ideas going into Q3 earnings include a mix of regionals and larger financial institutions.&#8221;
<ul>
<li>Top Picks:
<ul>
<li>U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>)</li>
<li>Western Alliance Bancorporation </li>
<li>PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>)</li>
<li>Fifth Third Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NYSE">FITB</a>)</li>
<li>M&amp;T Bank Corp.</li>
<li>Truist Financial Corporation</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs Inc.</li>
<li>Bank of New York Mellon Corp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman Sachs – Richard Ramsden</h4>
Goldman Sachs is particularly optimistic about Citigroup heading into Q3 earnings, citing the bank's progress toward its 2024 targets driven by strong fee growth, solid capital markets activity, and robust card volumes. 
Ramsden is above consensus on Citigroup's Q3 pre-provision net revenue (PPNR), largely due to expectations of higher fees and capital markets activity.
<ul>
<li>Top Pick:
<ul>
<li>Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41249837/s-p-500-earnings-season-kicks-off-why-analysts-call-this-quarter-a-stock-pickers-paradise">S&amp;P 500 Earnings Season Kicks Off: Why Analysts Call This Quarter &#8216;A Stock Picker&#8217;s Paradise&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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WTFC

Banks Gear Up For Earnings Season: 15 Top Stock Picks Including Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, And Truist

Truist Securities analyst Brandon King maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $118 to $123.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $123

Wintrust Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NYSE">WTFC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 20.08% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.19 million shares sold short, which is 1.99% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.79 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wintrust Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725989416_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wintrust Finl has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wintrust Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.25%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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How Is The Market Feeling About Wintrust Finl?

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Shares of banking companies are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US economic concerns.

Wintrust Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NYSE">WTFC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 12.32% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.37 million shares sold short, which is 2.49% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.42 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wintrust Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722630620_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wintrust Finl has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wintrust Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.50%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wtfc#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) has closed the all-stock deal to acquire Macatawa Bank Corporation for $510.3 million or $14.85 per share. The merger agreement, which is not expected to have a material effect on Wintrust&#39;s 2024 earnings, was signed this April.
Headquartered in Holland, MI, Macatawa operates a network of 26 full-service branches located throughout communities in Kent, Ottawa and northern Allegan counties, including Grand Rapids.
As of Jun 30, 2024, Macatawa Bank had $2.7 billion in assets, $2.3 billion in deposits and $1.3 billion in loans. Its approach to customer service is similar to that at each of the fifteen other Wintrust Community Banks and their more than 170 banking locations.
Per the terms of the deal, at the time of the merger, each of Macatawa&#39;s 34,361,562 common shares outstanding were to be converted into the right to receive merger consideration paid in shares of Wintrust common stock.
Accordingly, each of Macatawa&#39;s common shares outstanding was converted into the right to receive 0.137 shares of Wintrust common stock, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares.
Timothy S. Crane, the president and CEO of Wintrust, stated, &quot;Macatawa Bank provides an ideal platform to expand into West Michigan with a very solid bank. The bank has a strong core deposit base, exceptional asset quality, a client focused culture, and a committed leadership team. Together, we will be a formidable, community-minded competitor to the other banks in the area. We look forward to providing Macatawa Bank&#39;s customers with an expanded array of products and services and are thrilled to welcome Macatawa Bank clients and team members to the Wintrust family.&quot;
The chairman of Macatawa, Richard L. Postma, said, &quot;Wintrust provides Macatawa Bank with the ability to retain and enhance its uniquely personalized consumer and commercial community presence in the West Michigan area by retaining the Macatawa Bank name, its key employees, branches, and a legally constituted community bank board, as a separately chartered bank and the only Wintrust subsidiary bank located within the State of Michigan. We are confident that this transaction, which combines similar cultures and operating philosophies, will result in a continued community bank that offers all the enhanced services, products and technology of Wintrust to meet the evolving banking needs of our customers.&quot;
Over the past six months, WTFC shares have gained 13.6% compared with the industry&#39;s 23.6% growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/1a/73175.jpg?v=1777469635" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, WTFC carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<h3>Inorganic Growth Efforts by Other Finance Firms</h3>
A few days ago, Renasant Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rnst#NYSE">RNST</a>) and The First Bancshares Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fbms#NYSE">FBMS</a>) jointly entered a merger agreement. Per the agreement, First Bancshares will merge into Renasant for an all-stock consideration of $1.2 billion, based on the latter&#39;s closing stock price of $37.09 as of Jul 26, 2024.
Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of First Bancshares will get one share of RNST&#39;s common stock for each of their shares. Moreover, all options of First Bancshares will be cashed out at their in-the-money value upon the closure of the deal.
The deal, which is expected to be closed by the first half of 2025, has been approved by the shareholders of both companies and awaits requisite regulatory approvals.
Last month, Eastern Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ebc#NASDAQ">EBC</a>) completed its merger with Cambridge Bancorp. The deal, announced in September 2023 with a 100% stock consideration, aligns with the company&#39;s inorganic growth strategy.
The merged private banking and wealth management divisions will work under the brand and leadership of Cambridge Trust as it has a distinct presence in its peer local markets. Other areas of the merged bank, including Commercial, Business and Consumer Banking, will operate under EBC&#39;s brand name.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2315555/wintrust-wtfc-completes-acquisition-of-macatawa-for-510-3m?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_finance_sector-2315555">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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Wintrust Completes Acquisition of Macatawa for $510.3M

Truist Securities analyst Brandon King maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $107 to $118.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $118

Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) reported mixed second-quarter financial results, after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/wtfc/earnings">closing bell on Wednesday.</a>
Wintrust Financial reported quarterly earnings of $2.32 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.42 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $591.757 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $587.329 million, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Timothy S. Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, &#8220;We are pleased with our record net income for the first half of 2024 and record quarterly net interest income. Robust loan and deposit growth coupled with a stabilizing margin drove our strong second quarter results. Pre-tax, pre-provision income (non-GAAP) also set the Company&#8217;s record for the first half of 2024 and we believe we are well-positioned for strong financial performance as we continue our momentum into the second half of the year.&#8221;
Wintrust Financial shares fell 0.1% to trade at $106.20 on Friday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Wintrust Financial following the announcement.
<ul>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Christopher Mcgratty downgraded Wintrust Financial from Outperform to Market Perform, but raised the price target from $110 to $115.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Nathan Race maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $113 to $125.</li>
<li>DA Davidson analyst Kevin Reevey maintained Wintrust Financial with a Buy rating and raised the price target from $120 to $125.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39859847/netflix-to-rally-more-than-10-here-are-10-top-analyst-forecasts-for-friday">Netflix To Rally More Than 10%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Friday</a></li>
</ul>

These Analysts Increase Their Forecasts On Wintrust Financial After Q2 Results

DA Davidson analyst Kevin Reevey maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $120 to $125.

DA Davidson Maintains Buy on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $125

Piper Sandler analyst Nathan Race maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $113 to $125.

Piper Sandler Maintains Overweight on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $125

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Christopher Mcgratty downgrades Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) from Outperform to Market Perform and raises the price target from $110 to $115.

Downgrades

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Downgrades Wintrust Finl to Market Perform, Raises Price Target to $115

Shares of bank stocks are trading lower, possibly under pressure following recent earnings in the sector.

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Terry McEvoy reiterates Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $115 price target.

Reiteration

Stephens & Co. Reiterates Overweight on Wintrust Finl, Maintains $115 Price Target

Wedbush analyst David Chiaverini maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $115 to $130.

Wedbush Maintains Outperform on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $130

Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $2.32 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.42 by 4.13 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $591.757 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $587.329 million by 0.75 percent. This is a 5.56 percent increase over sales of $560.567 million the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

Wintrust Finl Q2 2024 GAAP EPS $2.32 Misses $2.42 Estimate, Sales $591.757M Beat $587.329M Estimate

Wintrust Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NYSE">WTFC</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.88% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.39 million shares sold short, which is 2.52% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.62 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wintrust Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1720639811_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wintrust Finl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wintrust Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.78%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Wintrust Finl's Recent Short Interest

RBC Capital analyst Jon Arfstrom maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $116 to $117.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $117

8 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table provides a quick overview of their recent ratings, highlighting the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $113.0, a high estimate of $130.00, and a low estimate of $100.00. Observing a downward trend, the current average is 3.89% lower than the prior average price target of $117.57. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1720458041_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
A clear picture of Wintrust Finl's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Brandon King</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$107.00</td>
<td>$112.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ken Usdin</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$116.00</td>
<td>$118.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brendan Nosal</td>
<td>Hovde Group</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Gerlinger</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$113.00</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandon King</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$112.00</td>
<td>$117.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Chiaverini</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$116.00</td>
<td>$116.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Terry McEvoy</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Wintrust Finl. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Wintrust Finl compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Wintrust Finl's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Wintrust Finl's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WTFC/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Wintrust Finl analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Wintrust Finl</h2>
Wintrust Financial Corp is a financial holding company operating in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin through its wholly-owned banking subsidiaries. Wintrust conducts its business through three segments: community banking, specialty finance, and wealth management. Among other services, the company provides community-oriented, personal, and commercial banking, as well as the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market. A majority of its banks are banks chartered by the state of Illinois with scores of locations. The company has historically grown through both de novo organization and acquisitions. A majority of its loan portfolio is commercial, mostly in real estate. A majority of Wintrust's net revenue is net interest income.
<h3>Understanding the Numbers: Wintrust Finl's Finances</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company exhibits a lower market capitalization profile, positioning itself below industry averages. This suggests a smaller scale relative to peers.
Revenue Growth: Wintrust Finl's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 31 March, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 6.87%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Wintrust Finl's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 29.82% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Wintrust Finl's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 3.6%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Wintrust Finl's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 0.32%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: The company faces challenges in debt management with a debt-to-equity ratio higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 0.78, caution is advised due to increased financial risk.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Outlook: Wintrust Finl Through The Eyes Of 8 Analysts

Truist Securities analyst Brandon King maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $112 to $107.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Wintrust Finl, Lowers Price Target to $107

Jefferies analyst Ken Usdin maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $118 to $116.

Jefferies Maintains Buy on Wintrust Finl, Lowers Price Target to $116

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Popular: Maintaining A Cautious Stance

Wintrust Financial Corporation Deserves An Optimistic Outlook

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Press Releases

MACATAWA BANK INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Macatawa Bank Corporation - MCBC

Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2024 Earnings Release Schedule

MACATAWA BANK INVESTOR ALERT BY THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LOUISIANA: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Macatawa Bank Corporation - MCBC

Wintrust Financial Corporation Reports Record Year-to-Date Net Income

Dividends

Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces Cash Dividends

Macatawa Bank Corporation Announces Special Meeting Results

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Wintrust Financial Corporation Completes Its Merger With Macatawa Bank Corporation

Wintrust Expands Workplace Solutions Offering for HSAs, FSAs, and More, Powered by First Dollar

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Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2024 Earnings Release Schedule

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