How did HXL's Q4 earnings surprise impact investor sentiment?

Hexcel's (HXL) Q4 earnings surprise had a positive impact on investor sentiment, as evidenced by the following points:

1. **Expected Earnings Growth**: Hexcel was anticipated to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings, which was a positive indicator for investors.
2. **Revenue Expectations**: Analysts forecasted a year-over-year revenue increase, which suggested a strong financial performance for the company.
3. **Historical Performance**: Hexcel had beaten analysts' revenue expectations by 3% in the previous quarter, indicating a track record of exceeding expectations. This likely bolstered investor confidence in the company's ability to perform well.
4. **Market Reaction to Q3 Earnings**: Hexcel's Q3 earnings and revenues surpassed estimates, leading to a positive market reaction. The company reported an earnings surprise of 2.17% and a revenue surprise when compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This recent positive performance would likely have translated to optimism about the Q4 earnings report.
5. **Investor Sentiment**: The anticipation of earnings growth, combined with the company's history of exceeding expectations, would have likely boosted investor sentiment ahead of the Q4 earnings release.

Overall, the combination of expected earnings growth, positive revenue forecasts, historical performance, and market reaction to previous quarters' earnings suggests that Hexcel's Q4 earnings surprise had a positive impact on investor sentiment.