Kennedy Capital Management LLC Acquires 51,428 Shares of Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL)

Kennedy Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL - Free Report) by 9.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 574,084 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 51,428 shares during the quarter. Hexcel makes up about 0.8% of Kennedy Capital Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest position. Kennedy Capital Management LLC owned 0.71% of Hexcel worth $35,995,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Hexcel in the 4th quarter worth $60,241,000. Brandes Investment Partners LP lifted its stake in Hexcel by 99.6% in the fourth quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 1,304,669 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $81,803,000 after acquiring an additional 651,062 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its holdings in Hexcel by 249.6% during the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 815,658 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $51,142,000 after acquiring an additional 582,353 shares in the last quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its position in Hexcel by 1,153.9% during the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 535,962 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $33,546,000 after purchasing an additional 493,218 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 66.9% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,198,136 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $75,123,000 after purchasing an additional 480,207 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.47% of the company's stock.

Hexcel Stock Performance

NYSE HXL traded down $0.48 on Tuesday, hitting $52.28. 333,592 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 949,962. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $58.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.20 billion, a PE ratio of 32.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.08. 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 Co. has a 1-year low of $45.28 and a 1-year high of $73.58.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The aerospace company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.52. Hexcel had a net margin of 6.94% and a return on equity of 10.66%. As a group, analysts expect that Hexcel Co. will post 2.14 EPS for the current year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.30%. This is a boost from Hexcel's previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. Hexcel's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on HXL. TD Cowen raised shares of Hexcel to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $55.00 price objective (down previously from $63.00) on shares of Hexcel in a research report on Tuesday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Hexcel from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Hexcel from $75.00 to $68.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $74.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $69.00.

Hexcel 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.