Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Sets New 12-Month Low on Analyst Downgrade

Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday after Truist Financial lowered their price target on the stock from $85.00 to $80.00. Truist Financial currently has a buy rating on the stock. Hexcel traded as low as $51.84 and last traded at $55.43, with a volume of 120 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $56.31.

Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on HXL. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Hexcel from $74.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Hexcel to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Hexcel from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hexcel currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $72.64.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hexcel

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Hexcel by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,859 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 14,766 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $926,000 after buying an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in shares of Hexcel by 21.4% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,159 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Hexcel by 21.1% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,181 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina increased its holdings in Hexcel by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 35,779 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,243,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.47% of the company’s stock.

Hexcel Stock Performance

The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $62.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $62.14. The company has a market capitalization of $4.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 2.21.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The aerospace company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52. Hexcel had a return on equity of 10.66% and a net margin of 6.94%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Hexcel Co. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.24%. This is a positive change from Hexcel’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. Hexcel’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.77%.

Hexcel Company Profile

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.