Does HEXCEL CORP /DE/ have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores HEXCEL CORP /DE/ (HXL) 28.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 29, returns on capital 28, balance-sheet safety 18, capital discipline 40.

Is HXL stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $37.66 per share versus a recent price of $103.81 — 176% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has HXL's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 28.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

HEXCEL CORP /DE/

HXL · Materials · $7.9B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power29

Median gross margin 24.5% over 10y, stable.

Returns on capital28

Median ROIC 8.1%, above the 9% hurdle in 40% of years.

Balance-sheet safety18

Net debt/EBITDA 3.1x, interest coverage 5x.

Capital discipline40

Owner earnings -4.9%/yr, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

176% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $158.4M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $37.66
Recent price: $103.81
Discount to value: 176% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

19 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

HEXCEL CORP /DE/ booked $1.9B of revenue in FY2025 in the Materials sector and kept 23.0% of it as gross profit — a moderate-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 5.8% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $1.3B (FY2008) to $1.9B (FY2025) — about 2.1% a year compounded over 17 years.

It earned 6.4% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 13.5% across 18 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 28/100.

The balance sheet carried $993.0M of total debt in FY2025 against $158.4M of owner earnings — roughly 6.3 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 18/100.

The share count fell 21.6% between FY2009 and FY2025 — management has been retiring shares, which concentrates each remaining owner's claim. Capital Discipline scores it 40/100.

Put together: Capital Discipline is the strongest of the four filters (40/100) and Balance-Sheet Safety the weakest (18/100), which is how HXL lands at 29/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$1.9B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods23.0% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed6.4% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$158.4M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in HXL’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale28.8 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — HXL has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Materials context

#150 of 214 scored Materials companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#148HOFT HOOKER FURNISHINGS CORPORATION29.0 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#149SCL STEPAN COMPANY28.9 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#151AVD AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION28.3 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#152NBR NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD28.1 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare HXL with its nearest peers →All Materials companies on the Index →

Common questions about HXL

Does HEXCEL CORP /DE/ have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores HEXCEL CORP /DE/ (HXL) 28.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 29, returns on capital 28, balance-sheet safety 18, capital discipline 40.
Is HXL stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $37.66 per share versus a recent price of $103.81 — 176% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has HXL's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 28.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell HXL. See the disclaimer.