WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBC) Full-Year Results Just Came Out: Here's What Analysts Are Forecasting For This Year

WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBC) last week reported its latest full-year results, which makes it a good time for investors to dive in and see if the business is performing in line with expectations. It was a credible result overall, with revenues of US$593m and statutory earnings per share of US$3.02 both in line with analyst estimates, showing that WesBanco is executing in line with expectations. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

View our latest analysis for WesBanco

Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for WesBanco from seven analysts is for revenues of US$655.5m in 2023 which, if met, would be a notable 10% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to accumulate 7.5% to US$3.31. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$655.6m and earnings per share (EPS) of US$3.31 in 2023. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

It will come as no surprise then, to learn that the consensus price target is largely unchanged at US$41.00. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. The most optimistic WesBanco analyst has a price target of US$45.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$38.00. With such a narrow range of valuations, the analysts apparently share similar views on what they think the business is worth.

Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. We can infer from the latest estimates that forecasts expect a continuation of WesBanco'shistorical trends, as the 10% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2023 is roughly in line with the 10% annual revenue growth over the past five years. Compare this with the broader industry, which analyst estimates (in aggregate) suggest will see revenues grow 6.5% annually. So it's pretty clear that WesBanco is forecast to grow substantially faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. Happily, there were no major changes to revenue forecasts, with the business still expected to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$41.00, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on WesBanco. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have forecasts for WesBanco going out to 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You should always think about risks though. Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for WesBanco you should be aware of.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.