Earnest Partners 13F: Cuts WTFC Stake by $6.3M

Earnest Partners Trims Wintrust Position

Earnest Partners lowered its investment in Wintrust Financial Corporation (NasdaqGS: WTFC) during the period ended May 15, 2026, according to a Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing reflects holdings as of that historical date and may not represent the investor's current position today. The fund filed a 13F showing a reduction of its stake in the regional bank, taking a slightly more cautious view after previous quarters of holding steady.

Details of the Portfolio Reduction

The institutional investor cut its position by 39,471 shares, which worked out to a 2.7% decrease for the quarter. Earnest Partners started the period holding 1,440,105 shares and finished with 1,400,634 shares. Based on the valuation provided in the filing, that remaining stake carried a reported value of about $225.1 million.

Wintrust Stock Performance and Market Context

Shares of Wintrust Financial recently changed hands at $160.72 on Sunday, sitting comfortably between its 52-week low of $119.61 and its peak of $167.22. The regional lender trades well above its 200-day moving average of $149.69, showing solid upward momentum over the past year. Keep in mind that 13F filings are backward-looking snapshots from past months and do not always reflect what an investor is doing right now.

Wall Street Analyst Updates

Wall Street firms continue to update their views on the regional bank. On October 13, 2026, Deutsche Bank initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $175.00 price target. Earlier, on October 5, 2026, Barclays maintained an Overweight rating while adjusting its target to $190.00. On the same day, TD Cowen maintained its Buy rating with a $173.00 target, and Piper Sandler kept an Overweight rating while raising its target to $195.00. Wells Fargo also started coverage on September 24, 2026, with an Equal-Weight rating and a $160.00 target.

What Wintrust Financial Does

Wintrust Financial Corporation operates as a financial holding company providing community-oriented banking, wealth management, and specialty financing services across the United States. Founded in 1991 and based in Rosemont, Illinois, the bank serves personal and commercial customers through specialized segments ranging from mortgage origination to insurance premium financing.

What to Watch at Wintrust Financial Corporation

Investors can look toward the next earnings release scheduled for October 19, 2026, for further insights into the company's financial health. Additional institutional filings in upcoming reporting cycles will also show whether other large managers followed Earnest Partners in trimming their positions or chose to hold steady.