Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: WTFCAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

WTFC AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Wintrust Financial Corporation is a regional financial holding company operating Community Banking, Specialty Finance, and Wealth Management divisions. In FY2025, the bank delivered $4.23B in revenue and $823.8M in net income, backed by a 5-year revenue CAGR of 17.4%. For the trailing twelve months, it achieved an operating margin of 46.1% and diluted EPS of $12.45.

Market cap
$9.72B
Revenue (TTM)
$2.76B
P/E
11.6x
fwd 10.9x
1Y return
21.6%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$176.12
22.2% vs last close

Bull case

  • Quarterly earnings grew 18.7% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, demonstrating continued bottom-line expansion.
  • Wintrust maintains a conservative payout ratio of 16.9% alongside a 27-year record of unbroken dividend payments.
  • Wall Street analysts hold a mean price target of $176.12, pointing to 22.2% potential upside from the closing price of $144.08.

Bear case

  • Total share count rose 17.4% over five years, diluting existing equity holders despite $412.5M in FY2025 share repurchases.
  • Annual revenue growth slowed from 37.1% in FY2024 to 6.7% in FY2025.
  • Operating margin was volatile historically, dropping as low as 1.8% in FY2023 before recovering to 26.4% in FY2025.

What Wintrust Financial does

Wintrust Financial Corporation operates as a financial holding company founded in 1991 and headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. The company provides services across three segments: Community Banking, Specialty Finance, and Wealth Management. Community Banking offers deposit products, residential mortgages, consumer lending, asset-based lending, and commercial financing for middle-market businesses, franchise operators, and homeowner associations. Specialty Finance provides commercial and life insurance premium financing, accounts receivable financing, outsourced administration, and data processing services for the temporary staffing industry. Its Wealth Management arm rounds out its services for retail, institutional, and municipal clients.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2021 and FY2025, revenue expanded from $1.86B to $4.23B, marking a 5-year revenue CAGR of 17.4%. Net income rose steadily over the same period, growing from $466.2M in FY2021 to $823.8M in FY2025, with EPS increasing from $7.64 to $11.72. Operating margin landed at 26.4% in FY2025 with a net margin of 19.5%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 10.2% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded 18.7%. Over the trailing twelve months, Wintrust generated $2.76B in revenue with an operating margin of 46.1% and a profit margin of 32.6%.

WTFC income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Wintrust reported $15.02B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $4.37B, yielding net cash of $10.65B. Total assets stood at $74.67B alongside shareholders' equity of $7.53B, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.26. During FY2025, operating cash flow reached $910.3M and free cash flow was $860.4M. Capital expenditures totaled $50.0M, while capital returns included $412.5M in share buybacks and $169.4M in dividends paid.

WTFC balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At $144.08, Wintrust trades at a trailing P/E of 11.6x and a forward P/E of 10.9x, compared to medians of 12.1x and 10.8x for the US-listed Financial Services peer group. The stock carries a price-to-book multiple of 1.4x and a price-to-sales multiple of 3.5x versus 3.2x for peers. Over the past year, the shares gained 21.6%, outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year horizon, Wintrust returned 86.4% compared to 83.0% for the index.

WTFC key metrics →

WTFC dividend

Wintrust pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $2.20 per share, representing a 1.53% dividend yield and a 16.9% payout ratio. The company has paid dividends for 27 consecutive years, producing a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 12.3%. Its last ex-dividend date was August 6, 2026.

WTFC dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 6 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, and 6 Hold recommendations, with zero Sell ratings. The mean price target is $176.12, representing 22.2% upside from the close of $144.08. Consensus estimates project current fiscal year EPS of $13.14 on revenue of $2.97B, followed by next fiscal year EPS of $13.91 on revenue of $3.17B based on 15 analysts. The company beat EPS estimates in all 4 of the last 4 quarters, with next earnings scheduled for October 19, 2026.

WTFC forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • The company holds a current ratio of 0.26 as of June 30, 2026, reflecting short-term liquidity profiles common in regional banking.
  • Total debt stood at $4.37B as of June 30, 2026, requiring steady operating cash generation to maintain debt service.
  • The shares trade 3.5% below their 200-day moving average and sit below the 52-week high of $167.22.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this WTFC AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: WTFC income statement, WTFC balance sheet, WTFC key metrics, WTFC analyst forecast, WTFC chart. See the WTFC stock overview for the latest quote and news.

WTFC AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Wintrust Financial's dividend yield and payout schedule?

Wintrust offers an annualized forward dividend of $2.20 per share, yielding 1.53% with a quarterly payout schedule. The dividend is supported by a 16.9% payout ratio and 27 consecutive years of payments.

How did Wintrust perform financially in FY2025?

In FY2025, Wintrust generated $4.23B in revenue, up 6.7% year-over-year, and net income of $823.8M. Diluted EPS was $11.72 with an operating margin of 26.4%.

What are analysts forecasting for Wintrust's earnings?

Analysts estimate EPS of $13.14 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, representing 12.5% growth. For the following fiscal year, 15 analysts forecast EPS of $13.91 on $3.17B in revenue.

How does WTFC valuation compare to its peers?

WTFC trades at a trailing P/E of 11.6x and forward P/E of 10.9x, compared to US-listed Financial Services peer medians of 12.1x and 10.8x, respectively.

More Financial Services AI stock analysis