STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 24, 2025-- Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL):

See Table C for reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP operating income, net income, earnings per share and operating cash flow to free cash flow. Free cash flow is cash from operations less capital expenditures.

Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL) today reported second quarter 2025 results including net sales of $490 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.50 per share.

Chairman, CEO and President Tom Gentile said, “Hexcel delivered sales and adjusted EPS in line with expectations for the second quarter of 2025, based on modest sequential growth in three of our four major commercial aerospace programs, with the exception being softness in the Airbus A350 as expected and previously communicated due to production rate decreases announced by Airbus and destocking of excess inventory in the supply chain. There was continued growth in the Other Commercial Aerospace market, and we were pleased to see Defense, Space and Other providing robust growth yet again with a high single digit step-up over the second quarter of 2024. Overall production levels and reduced capacity utilization, along with actions to reduce inventory meant gross margin remained subdued. The opportunity for significant margin leverage and cash flow generation remains strong, and we are encouraged by the more positive tones and progress conveyed by the commercial airframe and engine OEM’s in recent months.”

Mr. Gentile continued, “We also completed the previously announced closure of our Welkenraedt, Belgium facility resulting in restructuring charges of $24.2 million. Combined with the announced strategic review of our Neumarkt, Austria facility, and our recent divestiture of our US additive printing business, we continue to streamline our operations and focus on upcoming aircraft production rate ramps. Hexcel also participated in the Paris Air Show last month where we reinforced existing relationships, announced some new relationships, and highlighted recent advances with our innovative technology. We forecast a compelling growth trajectory for the business as production rates on all commercial and military programs continue to increase. Based on this confidence, we continued to repurchase stock with another $50 million of repurchases executed in the second quarter. We have repurchased stock in five of the past six quarters and have now repurchased almost six percent of the shares outstanding since the beginning of 2024.”

Markets

Sales in the second quarter of 2025 were $489.9 million compared to $500.4 million in the second quarter of 2024. Beginning with the first quarter of 2025, sales are being reported for two markets, including Commercial Aerospace, unchanged from past practice, and Defense, Space & Other, which combines the previous Space & Defense market and Industrial market. Prior period sales amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes.

Commercial Aerospace

• Commercial Aerospace sales of $293.1 million for the second quarter of 2025 decreased 8.6% (8.9% in constant currency) compared to the second quarter of 2024. Sales decreased year over year for each of the four major programs including the Airbus A350 and A320neo and the Boeing 787 and 737 MAX. Other Commercial Aerospace increased 5.1% for the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024.

Defense, Space & Other

• Defense, Space & Other sales of $196.8 million in the second quarter of 2025 increased 9.5% (7.6% in constant currency) for the quarter as compared to the second quarter of 2024. Growth was driven by Sikorsky CH-53K, two international fighter programs and space programs including launchers, rocket motors and satellites.

Consolidated Operations

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2025 was 22.8% compared to 25.3% in the second quarter of 2024 as lower sales and inventory reduction actions drove unfavorable cost leverage. We are also now beginning to feel the impact of tariffs. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2025 were 8.8% compared to 8.0% for the second quarter of 2024. R&T expenses as a percentage of sales were 2.9% in the second quarter of 2025, unchanged from the comparable prior year period. Adjusted operating income in the second quarter of 2025 was $54.2 million or 11.1% of sales, compared to $72.0 million, or 14.4% of sales in the second quarter of 2024. Other operating expense in the second quarter of 2025 included restructuring charges of $24.2 million related to the previously announced closure of the Welkenraedt, Belgium facility, which is reported within the Engineered Products segment. The impact of exchange rates on operating income as a percent of sales was favorable by approximately 10 basis points in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024.

Year-to-Date 2025 Results

Sales for the first six months of 2025 were $946.4 million compared to $972.7 million, a 2.7% decrease from the same period in 2024.

Commercial Aerospace (61% of YTD sales)

• Commercial Aerospace sales of $573.2 million decreased 7.5% (7.7% in constant currency) for the first six months of 2025 compared to the first six months of 2024 as sales to all four major programs were lower, led by the 787 and A350. Other Commercial Aerospace increased 6.0% for the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Defense, Space & Other (39% of YTD sales)

• Defense, Space & Other sales of $373.2 million increased 5.8% (5.2% in constant currency) for the first six months of 2025 as compared to the first six months of 2024. Growth was broad based including military helicopters, fighters and space programs.

Consolidated Operations

Gross margin for the first six months of 2025 was 22.6% compared to 25.2% in the prior year period. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses for the first six months of 2025 were 9.1%, unchanged from the comparable prior year period. R&T expenses as a percentage of sales were 3.0% in the first six months of 2025 compared to 3.1% in the first six months of 2024. Adjusted operating income for the first six months of 2025 was $99.5 million or 10.5% of sales, compared to $126.1 million or 13.0% of sales in 2024. Other operating expense for the first six months of 2025 included restructuring charges of $25.3 million related to the previously announced closure of the Belgium facility and the divestiture of the Hartford, Connecticut business. Other operating expense of $1.4 million for the first six months of 2024 included restructuring costs. The impact of exchange rates on operating income as a percent of sales was favorable by approximately 30 basis points in the first six months of 2025 compared to the first six months of 2024.

Cash and other

• Net cash used for operating activities in the first six months of 2025 was $5.2 million, compared to net cash provided of $37.2 million for the first six months of 2024. Working capital was a cash use of $124.5 million for the first six months of 2025 and a use of $118.3 million for the comparable period in 2024. Capital expenditures on a cash basis were $41.4 million for the first six months of 2025. For the first six months of 2024, capital expenditures on a cash basis were $51.6 million. Free cash flow was ($46.6) million in the first six months of 2025 compared to ($14.4) million in the first six months of 2024. Free cash flow is defined as cash generated from operating activities less cash paid for capital expenditures. Capital expenditures on an accrual basis were $31.8 million and $41.1 million for the first six months of 2025 and 2024, respectively.
• The Company used $50.5 million to repurchase shares of its common stock during the second quarter of 2025 and $100.9 million during the first six months of 2025. The aggregate remaining authorization under the share repurchase program as of June 30, 2025 was approximately $134 million.
• As announced today, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share payable to stockholders of record as of August 8, 2025, with a payment date of August 15, 2025.

2025 Guidance (Unchanged – tariff impact not included)

• Sales of $1.88 billion to $1.95 billion
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.85 to $2.05
• Free cash flow of approximately $190 million
• Capital expenditures less than $90 million
• Effective tax rate of 21.0%, excluding discrete tax items and subject to final review of the OBBB (One Big Beautiful Bill)

Hexcel will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET, on July 25, 2025 to discuss second quarter 2025 results. The live webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Hexcel website via the following link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/291294327. The event can also be accessed by dialing +1 (646) 307-1963. The conference ID is 2360739. Replays of the call will be available on the website.

About Hexcel

Hexcel Corporation is a global leader in advanced lightweight composites technology. We propel the future of flight and transportation through excellence in advanced material lightweighting solutions that create a better world for us all. Our broad and unrivaled product range includes carbon fiber, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, resins, engineered core and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, defense and space, and industrial applications.

Disclaimer on Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that are forward looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the estimates and expectations based on aircraft production rates provided by Airbus, Boeing and others, and the revenues we may generate from an aircraft model or program; expectations with regard to the impact of regulatory activity related to the Boeing 737 MAX on our revenues; expectations with regard to raw material cost and availability, including any impact associated with quotas, duties, tariffs, taxes or other similar restrictions upon the import or export of materials; expectations of composite content on new commercial aircraft programs and our share of those requirements; expectations regarding revenues from space and defense applications, including whether certain programs might be curtailed or discontinued; expectations regarding sales for industrial applications; expectations regarding cash generation, working capital trends, and inventory levels; expectations as to the level of capital expenditures, capacity, including the timing of completion of capacity expansions, and qualification of new products; expectations regarding our ability to improve or maintain margins; expectations regarding our ability to attract, motivate, and retain the workforce necessary to execute our business strategy; projections regarding our tax rate; expectations with regard to the continued impact of macroeconomic factors or geopolitical issues or conflicts, including retaliatory actions taken in response to U.S. trade policy; expectations regarding our strategic initiatives, including our sustainability goals; expectations with regard to the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures; expectations regarding the outcome of legal matters or the impact of changes in laws or regulations; and our expectations of financial results for 2025 and beyond. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward looking statements due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to the extent of the impact of macroeconomic factors or geopolitical issues or conflicts; reductions in sales to any significant customers, particularly Airbus or Boeing, including related to regulatory activity or public scrutiny impacting the Boeing 737 MAX; our ability to effectively adjust production and inventory levels to align with customer demand; our ability to effectively motivate, retain and hire the necessary workforce; the availability and cost of raw materials, including the impact of supply disruptions, inflation and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement or realize our strategic initiatives, including our sustainability goals and any restructuring or alignment activities in which we may engage; changes in sales mix; changes in current pricing due to cost levels; changes in aerospace delivery rates; changes in government defense procurement budgets; timely new product development or introduction; our ability to install, staff and qualify necessary capacity or complete capacity expansions to meet customer demand; cybersecurity-related risks, including the potential impact of breaches or intrusions; currency exchange rate fluctuations; uncertainty related to government actions and changes in domestic and international political, social and economic conditions, including the effect of change in global trade policies, tariff rates, economic sanctions and embargoes; work stoppages or other labor disruptions; our ability to successfully complete any strategic acquisitions, investments or dispositions; compliance with environmental, health, safety and other related laws and regulations, including those related to climate change; the effects of natural disasters or other severe weather events, which may be worsened by the impact of climate change, and other severe catastrophic events, including any public health crisis; and the unexpected outcome of legal matters or impact of changes in laws or regulations. Additional risk factors are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake an obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect future events.

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Kurt Goddard | Vice President Investor Relations | Kurt.Goddard@Hexcel.com | +1 (203)-352-6826

Source: Hexcel Corporation