Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hexcel generated $456 million in sales and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.37 in Q3 2025, unchanged year over year, reflecting challenging conditions due to slower seasonal sales and continued destocking by commercial OEMs [10][24] - Gross margin for Q3 2025 was 21.9%, down from 23.3% in Q3 2024, impacted by tariffs and inventory reduction actions [10][26] - Adjusted operating income in Q3 was $44.8 million, or 9.8% of sales, compared to $52.9 million, or 11.6% of sales in the prior year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial aerospace sales were $274.2 million, a decline of 7.3% year over year, primarily due to destocking on the Airbus A350 program [11][24] - Sales for defense, space, and other segments totaled $182 million, an increase of 11.7% on a constant currency basis, driven by strong demand across various platforms [12][25] - Other commercial aerospace sales increased by 9.3% year over year, led by regional jets [11][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The backlog for commercial aircraft has grown from 13,000 units before the pandemic to over 15,000 today, indicating strong demand [6][7] - Air traffic has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, supporting the outlook for increased production rates in the aerospace sector [6][7] - The company expects to exit 2025 fully aligned with commercial aircraft build rates, positioning for growth in 2026 and beyond [7][35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Hexcel's strategic focus remains on advanced material science, particularly in the aerospace and defense markets, as it navigates a dynamic environment [5][6] - The company is committed to driving productivity through automation, digitalization, and robotics, while also managing costs and realizing price gains [16][17] - Hexcel plans to return excess cash to stockholders, as demonstrated by a new $600 million share repurchase program [21][37] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed growing confidence in a sustained ramp-up in production based on customer discussions and actions, despite a slow recovery from the pandemic [6][7] - The company anticipates strong free cash flow generation, forecasting over $1 billion in cumulative free cash flow from 2025 to 2028 [17][37] - Management acknowledged the impact of tariffs and ongoing destocking but remains optimistic about future growth driven by increased production rates [14][32] Other Important Information - The divestiture of the Neumarkt, Austria plant was completed, which will not contribute to sales in Q4 2025 or beyond [14][33] - The company is managing headcount closely, with expectations to begin hiring again in early 2026 as production rates increase [15][17] - The company has not repurchased any stock during Q3 2025 but plans to utilize cash generation to repay borrowings from the accelerated share repurchase program [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the $500 million growth related to manufacturer production rates? - Management indicated that the long-term contract with Airbus for the A350 provides a foundation for capital investments, but inflation has impacted margins [42] Question: What should be the debt or interest costs for 2026 in light of the ASR? - Management suggested that debt will decrease rapidly after the first quarter, with an estimated interest rate of about 5.5% [44] Question: Can margins be higher if commercial aero revenue is higher than in 2024? - Management confirmed that margins can increase, but there is work to offset natural inflation [57] Question: How does the company plan to manage potential continued destocking? - Management plans to lag hiring in response to demand and utilize inventory as a cushion for unexpected demand spikes [59] Question: Is there an opportunity to recapture incremental tariff costs in the future? - Management noted that there are provisions to recover some costs, particularly for export or military use, and they are working on shifting foreign supply to domestic sources [76] Question: How big is the inventory cushion currently? - Management indicated that inventory levels have been running high, with a current cushion of about 90 days, aiming to reduce it to a steady state of 70 days [81]

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 23, 2025 09:00 AM ET Speaker3Hello, and thank you for standing by. My name is Tiffany, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Hexcel third quarter earnings call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during that time, simply press star, then the number one on you ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hexcel generated $456 million in sales and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.37 for Q3 2025, which aligns with expectations despite challenges from slower seasonal sales and continued destocking by commercial OEMs [11][30] - Gross margin decreased to 21.9% from 23.3% in Q3 2024, impacted by tariffs and inventory reduction actions [11][33] - Adjusted operating income was $44.8 million, or 9.8% of sales, compared to $52.9 million, or 11.6% of sales in the prior year [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial Aerospace sales were $274.2 million, a decline of 7.3% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, primarily due to destocking on the A350 program [12][30] - Defense, Space, and Other segment sales totaled $182 million, an increase of 11.7% on a constant currency basis, driven by strong demand across various platforms [13][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The backlog for commercial aircraft has grown from 13,000 units before the pandemic to over 15,000 today, indicating a recovery in air traffic to pre-pandemic levels [6][7] - The company expects to exit 2025 aligned with commercial aircraft build rates, positioning for growth in 2026 and beyond [7][45] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Hexcel's strategic focus remains on advanced material science, particularly in the aerospace and defense markets, as the company navigates a dynamic environment [5][24] - The company is committed to cost reduction actions and operational streamlining, including the divestiture of non-core assets [18][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed growing confidence in a sustained ramp-up in production based on customer discussions and supply chain improvements [6][10] - The company anticipates a multiyear growth cycle for commercial aerospace original equipment production, benefiting from strong positions in major programs [11][24] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors authorized a $600 million share repurchase program, alongside a $350 million accelerated share repurchase program [26][27] - The company has narrowed its sales expectations for 2025 to the lower end of the prior range due to ongoing destocking and tariff impacts [17][40] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the implications of the $500 million growth expected from manufacturer production rates? - Management noted that the long-term contract with Airbus for the A350 provides a foundation for capital investments, but inflation has impacted margins, which are expected to be around 16% when production returns to pre-pandemic levels [51][52] Question: What should be expected for debt or interest costs in 2026? - Management indicated that interest costs should be significantly lower than $50 million, with rapid debt reduction expected after the first quarter [54] Question: Can margins be higher in 2026 if commercial aerospace revenue increases? - Management confirmed that margins can improve as production rates increase, although inflation and other costs will need to be managed [67] Question: How is the company managing potential contingencies if destocking continues longer than expected? - The company is managing inventory levels and hiring cautiously, using existing inventory as a buffer against unexpected demand spikes [68] Question: What is the outlook for European defense spending? - Management highlighted a strong growth trend in European defense spending, with commitments to increase from 1% to 5% of GDP, indicating a positive outlook for defense-related sales [100][101]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated sales of $490 million in Q2 2025, with adjusted diluted EPS of $0.50 per share [13] - Gross margin decreased to 22.8% in Q2 2025 from 25.3% in Q2 2024, impacted by lower operating leverage and inventory reduction actions [16][28] - Adjusted operating income was $54.2 million, or 11.1% of sales, compared to $72 million, or 14.4% of sales in the prior year [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial aerospace sales totaled $293 million, down 8.9% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, primarily due to the A350 and Boeing 787 [13][26] - Defense, Space, and Other sales reached $197 million, up 7.6% year-over-year, driven by various military programs [15][27] - The Composite Materials segment represented 80% of total sales with an adjusted operating margin of 14.1%, down from 17.2% in the prior year [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial aerospace market accounted for approximately 60% of total sales in Q2 2025, while Defense, Space, and Other represented about 40% [26] - The company noted strong demand in the defense sector, with NATO members in Europe planning to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to generate over $1 billion in cash cumulatively over the next four years, supported by strong demand for advanced lightweight composite materials [9][38] - The company is focused on operational excellence and cost control, with plans to optimize production efficiency through automation and AI [20][22] - The company is exploring targeted M&A opportunities to complement its advanced material science technology [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the commercial aerospace industry's recovery, with a backlog for new aircraft at an all-time high [37] - The company anticipates a strong fourth quarter in 2025 as production rates increase, particularly for the A350 program [45][85] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining on-time delivery and quality, receiving recognition from Airbus for outstanding performance [18][76] Other Important Information - The company took a restructuring charge of $24 million in Q2 2025 related to the closure of its engineered product facility in Belgium [21][29] - The company repurchased $50 million of shares in Q2 2025, totaling $100 million for the year [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you outline the assumptions on build rates for the A350 program? - Management indicated that the A350 program's build rate has been adjusted down to the low sixties for the full year, with expectations for a strong fourth quarter as destocking ends [44][85] Question: Is there continued growth expected in the defense space? - Management expressed optimism about ongoing growth in defense spending globally, particularly in the second half of the year [46][47] Question: What were the actual shipping rates for the A350 in the first half of the year? - Shipping rates were in the low sixties in Q1 and high fives in Q2, reflecting destocking impacts [55][57] Question: How does the company view the impact of tariffs on earnings guidance? - Management noted that tariffs could impact earnings by $3 to $4 million per quarter, but they did not include this in guidance due to uncertainty [86][88] Question: What is the long-term growth outlook for the defense business? - Management sees defense as a significant growth opportunity, with increased spending in both the US and Europe expected to benefit the business [96][97]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hexcel generated sales of $490 million in Q2 2025, with adjusted diluted EPS of $0.50 per share [12][24] - Commercial aerospace sales were $293 million, down 8.9% year-over-year on a constant currency basis [12][25] - Gross margin decreased to 22.8% from 25.3% in the previous year, impacted by lower operating leverage and inventory reduction actions [14][27] - Adjusted operating income was $54.2 million, or 11.1% of sales, compared to $72 million, or 14.4% of sales in the prior year [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Composite Materials segment represented 80% of total sales, with an adjusted operating margin of 14.1%, down from 17.2% in the prior year [29] - Defense, Space, and Other sales totaled $197 million, up 7.6% year-over-year, driven by various military programs [13][26] - Sales for other commercial aerospace increased by 5.1% year-over-year, led by international demand [13][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial aerospace market accounted for approximately 60% of total sales in Q2 2025 [24] - Defense budgets globally are increasing, with NATO members in Europe indicating a rise to 5% of GDP, supporting higher build rates for military platforms [9][10] - The outlook for the A350 program remains challenging due to supply chain disruptions, but Airbus aims to stabilize production rates [6][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Hexcel is focused on maintaining operational excellence and controlling costs while navigating near-term production reductions [14][18] - The company is investing in automation and digitization to improve production efficiency and reduce costs per unit over the next several years [18][20] - Hexcel plans to generate over $1 billion in cash cumulatively over the next four years, driven by strong demand in commercial aerospace and defense sectors [7][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about the commercial aerospace industry's recovery, with a strong backlog for new aircraft orders [36] - The company expects production rates to increase in the second half of 2025, leading to improved margins and cash flow [15][21] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relationships with customers and adapting to changing market conditions [10][74] Other Important Information - Hexcel took a restructuring charge of $24 million in Q2 2025 related to the closure of its engineered products facility in Belgium [19][28] - The company repurchased $50 million of shares in Q2 2025, totaling $100 million for the year [22][31] - Hexcel's average contract length is about seven years, with 15-20% of contracts up for renewal each year, allowing for pricing adjustments [66][67] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you outline the assumptions on build rates for the A350 program? - Management indicated that the A350 program's build rate has been adjusted down to the low sixties for the full year, with expectations for a strong fourth quarter as destocking ends [41][42] Question: What is the outlook for defense spending in the second half of the year? - Management expressed optimism about continued growth in defense spending, which has been higher than expected, and expects this trend to continue [45][46] Question: What were the actual shipping rates for the A350 in the first half of the year? - Shipping rates were in the low sixties in Q1 and high fives in Q2, with destocking primarily affecting European shipments [53][56] Question: How does the company plan to manage tariff impacts? - Management noted that tariffs are expected to impact earnings by $3-4 million per quarter, but they are working on mitigating strategies [34][85] Question: What is the long-term growth outlook for the defense business? - Management sees defense as a significant growth opportunity, with increased spending in the US and Europe expected to benefit Hexcel's defense segment [94][95]