Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) PT Lowered to $73.00 at UBS Group

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) had its price objective lowered by UBS Group from $77.00 to $73.00 in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the aerospace company’s stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $69.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 16th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Hexcel from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Hexcel from $96.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Hexcel from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Northcoast Research cut shares of Hexcel from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Hexcel has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $76.57.

Hexcel Stock Performance

NYSE HXL opened at $64.13 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $69.42. Hexcel has a twelve month low of $58.81 and a twelve month high of $79.08. The company has a current ratio of 2.74, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market cap of $5.33 billion, a PE ratio of 54.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.23.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The aerospace company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.44. Hexcel had a return on equity of 8.97% and a net margin of 5.52%. The firm had revenue of $472.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $468.93 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.50 EPS. Hexcel’s revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Hexcel will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Hexcel Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Investors of record on Friday, May 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 2nd. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.94%. Hexcel’s dividend payout ratio is currently 51.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,375 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $243,337.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Hexcel news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total transaction of $322,335.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at $3,608,074.73. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at $243,337.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Hexcel during the fourth quarter worth about $2,362,000. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Hexcel by 16.4% in the fourth quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 217,202 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $16,019,000 after purchasing an additional 30,652 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its position in shares of Hexcel by 6.3% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 155,323 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $10,118,000 after purchasing an additional 9,242 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hexcel in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,283,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in shares of Hexcel by 73.5% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 66,141 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $4,308,000 after purchasing an additional 28,010 shares during the last quarter. 95.47% of the stock is currently 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.