Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Hits New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL)’s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $55.25 and last traded at $55.55, with a volume of 409119 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $56.50.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HXL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial increased their price target on Hexcel from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on Hexcel from $63.00 to $60.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Hexcel from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen upgraded Hexcel to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Hexcel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $73.09.

Hexcel Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.58 billion, a PE ratio of 35.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.30. The business has a 50-day moving average of $63.84 and a 200 day moving average of $62.48. The company has a current ratio of 2.21, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.

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

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This is a positive change from Hexcel’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.20%. Hexcel’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hexcel

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Earnest Partners LLC increased its holdings in Hexcel by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 4,816,442 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $301,991,000 after acquiring an additional 37,442 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Hexcel by 4,372.3% in 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 acquiring an additional 2,446,716 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in Hexcel by 24.7% in 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 acquiring an additional 395,744 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in Hexcel by 9.0% in 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Hexcel by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,437,058 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $90,104,000 after acquiring an additional 24,393 shares during the last quarter. 95.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.