Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Upgraded by StockNews.com to "Buy" Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Hexcel (NYSE:HXL - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Thursday morning.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on Hexcel from $63.00 to $60.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Hexcel from $74.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Hexcel from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen upgraded Hexcel to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Hexcel from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a 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 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 Stock Down 4.1 %

NYSE HXL traded down $2.60 on Thursday, hitting $60.77. The stock had a trading volume of 999,763 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,112,264. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 2.21 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market cap of $4.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.31. Hexcel has a 52-week low of $57.50 and a 52-week high of $77.09. The business's fifty day moving average price is $64.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.85.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The aerospace company reported $0.52 earnings per share 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Hexcel will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $0.17 dividend. This is an increase from Hexcel's previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Hexcel's payout ratio is presently 42.77%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hexcel

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new position in shares of Hexcel in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $437,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in Hexcel by 11.2% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 239,700 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $15,029,000 after purchasing an additional 24,057 shares during the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Hexcel by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 513,318 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $32,185,000 after buying an additional 2,306 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hexcel in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $12,450,000. Finally, Strategic Wealth Partners Ltd. acquired a new stake in Hexcel during the 4th quarter valued at $1,168,000. 95.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.