Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Upgraded at StockNews.com

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

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on HXL. TD Cowen upgraded Hexcel to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Hexcel from $63.00 to $60.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Hexcel from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Hexcel from $74.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $73.09.

Hexcel Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HXL opened at $63.41 on Thursday. Hexcel has a 1 year low of $57.50 and a 1 year high of $77.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.14 billion, a PE ratio of 39.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.31. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $64.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 2.21 and a quick ratio of 1.20.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The aerospace company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting 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 research analysts expect that Hexcel will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $0.17 dividend. This is a boost from Hexcel’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.07%. Hexcel’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.77%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HXL. Earnest Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Hexcel by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 4,816,442 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $301,991,000 after purchasing an additional 37,442 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in Hexcel by 4,372.3% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,502,676 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $156,919,000 after buying an additional 2,446,716 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in Hexcel by 24.7% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,996,363 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $125,172,000 after buying an additional 395,744 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in shares of Hexcel by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,482,249 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $92,938,000 after acquiring an additional 122,281 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,437,058 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $90,104,000 after acquiring an additional 24,393 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.47% of the company’s stock.

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.