Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Here's What Happened

Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $47.89 and last traded at $48.42, with a volume of 1574161 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $49.80.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

HXL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Hexcel from $61.00 to $50.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Hexcel from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, April 27th. TD Cowen raised shares of Hexcel to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Hexcel from $75.00 to $68.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hexcel has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $61.20.

Hexcel Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $54.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $60.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.43 by ($0.06). Hexcel had a net margin of 6.94% and a return on equity of 10.66%. The firm had revenue of $456.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $482.18 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.44 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Hexcel Co. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Hexcel Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. Hexcel's dividend payout ratio is 45.03%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Barclays PLC boosted its position in Hexcel by 32.1% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 70,023 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $4,330,000 after acquiring an additional 17,011 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Hexcel by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,084,860 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $68,021,000 after purchasing an additional 24,133 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hexcel during the 4th quarter valued at about $242,000. Kopion Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Hexcel by 11.2% in the fourth quarter. Kopion Asset Management LLC now owns 97,960 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $6,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,861 shares during the period. Finally, Oak Thistle LLC lifted its position in Hexcel by 303.5% during the 4th quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 19,169 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,202,000 after acquiring an additional 14,418 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.