Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Purchases 44,018 Shares of Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH - Free Report) by 1.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,818,695 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 44,018 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 5.97% of Ashland worth $201,423,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ASH. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Ashland in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in Ashland in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Atala Financial Inc purchased a new position in shares of Ashland during the 4th quarter worth $56,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Ashland by 80.6% during the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 959 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $69,000 after acquiring an additional 428 shares during the period. Finally, Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in shares of Ashland by 84.1% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 994 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 454 shares in the last quarter. 93.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ashland Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ASH opened at $51.45 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $2.43 billion, a P/E ratio of -77.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.70. Ashland Inc. has a 52-week low of $45.21 and a 52-week high of $102.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 2.52. The firm's fifty day moving average is $56.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $69.08.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.51). Ashland had a positive return on equity of 7.41% and a negative net margin of 1.12%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.45 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Ashland Inc. will post 4.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Ashland

In other Ashland news, CEO Guillermo Novo acquired 31,294 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $64.24 per share, for a total transaction of $2,010,326.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 31,294 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,010,326.56. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.02% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on ASH. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Ashland from $69.00 to $58.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Mizuho set a $60.00 target price on shares of Ashland in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Ashland from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Ashland from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Ashland from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $68.00 to $71.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $73.20.

Ashland Profile

Ashland Inc provides additives and specialty ingredients in the North and Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through Life Sciences, Personal Care, Specialty Additives, and Intermediates segments. The Life Sciences segment offers pharmaceutical solutions, including controlled release polymers, disintegrants, tablet coatings, thickeners, solubilizers, and tablet binders; nutrition solutions, such as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and additives; and nutraceutical solutions comprising products for weight management, joint comfort, stomach and intestinal health, sports nutrition, and general wellness, as well as custom formulation, toll processing, and particle engineering solutions.

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