Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Cut to “Hold” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com lowered shares of Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Thursday.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on HXL. Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Hexcel from $78.00 to $76.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 18th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Hexcel to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Vertical Research lowered Hexcel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $65.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, October 10th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Hexcel from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Hexcel from $63.00 to $60.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hexcel has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $73.25.

Hexcel Stock Performance

Shares of Hexcel stock opened at $67.48 on Thursday. Hexcel has a 52 week low of $57.50 and a 52 week high of $77.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 2.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.44, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $63.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.70.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The aerospace company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.52. Hexcel had a return on equity of 10.55% and a net margin of 6.94%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Hexcel will post 2.34 EPS for the current year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This is a positive change from Hexcel’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. Hexcel’s payout ratio is currently 37.74%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hexcel during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Hexcel during the third quarter worth about $56,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Hexcel by 53.8% during the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 932 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in Hexcel by 30.8% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 955 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eastern Bank acquired a new position in shares of Hexcel during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $62,000. Institutional investors own 95.47% of the company’s stock.

About Hexcel

Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products.