Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Cuts Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Price Target to $70.00

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) had its target price reduced by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $71.00 to $70.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the aerospace company’s stock.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on HXL. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Hexcel from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Hexcel from $77.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Hexcel from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. 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 note on Tuesday, April 16th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on shares of Hexcel from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hexcel currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $76.57.

Hexcel Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:HXL traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $68.14. 1,255,842 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 952,985. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $69.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $69.37. The company has a market cap of $5.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 58.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 2.74. Hexcel has a 52 week low of $58.81 and a 52 week high of $79.08.

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

Hexcel Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Investors of record on Friday, May 3rd will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.88%. Hexcel’s dividend payout ratio is 51.28%.

Insider Activity at Hexcel

In related news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $322,335.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at $3,608,074.73. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Hexcel news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $322,335.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at $3,608,074.73. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of Hexcel stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $243,337.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders bought 43,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,792,990 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.39% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hexcel

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Hexcel by 22.1% in the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 8,774 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $572,000 after acquiring an additional 1,589 shares during the period. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Hexcel by 34.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 186,550 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $12,152,000 after purchasing an additional 47,350 shares during the period. Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its stake in Hexcel by 38.3% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 74,563 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $4,857,000 after purchasing an additional 20,638 shares during the period. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Hexcel by 67.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. now owns 32,566 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,121,000 after buying an additional 13,068 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its position in shares of Hexcel by 21.2% during the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 17,199 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,120,000 after buying an additional 3,004 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.47% of the company’s stock.

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.