Seaport Res Ptn Forecasts Ashland's Q2 Earnings (NYSE:ASH)

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Seaport Res Ptn dropped their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Ashland in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, March 5th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison now expects that the basic materials company will earn $1.20 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.22. Seaport Res Ptn currently has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Ashland's current full-year earnings is $4.27 per share.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 previous year, the company posted $0.45 EPS.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on ASH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Ashland from $81.00 to $68.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Ashland from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group cut their price target on Ashland from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Ashland from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Ashland from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ashland presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $93.50.

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Ashland Stock Down 2.1 %

Shares of ASH stock traded down $1.27 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $58.38. 1,158,608 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 438,908. Ashland has a 1 year low of $56.46 and a 1 year high of $102.50. The company's 50 day moving average is $66.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is $76.82. The company has a current ratio of 2.52, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market cap of $2.75 billion, a PE ratio of -88.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.89.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ashland

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASH. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Ashland by 6,127.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 880,459 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $76,574,000 after buying an additional 866,320 shares in the last quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Ashland by 172.5% during the fourth quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC now owns 670,785 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $47,934,000 after purchasing an additional 424,595 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Ashland during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,943,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in shares of Ashland by 12.3% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,598,602 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $226,000,000 after purchasing an additional 284,215 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eminence Capital LP grew its position in shares of Ashland by 8.0% during the fourth quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 2,860,471 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $204,409,000 after purchasing an additional 212,916 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.95% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ashland

In related news, CEO Guillermo Novo bought 31,294 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $64.24 per share, with a total value of $2,010,326.56. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 31,294 shares in the company, valued at $2,010,326.56. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.02% of the company's stock.

Ashland Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.405 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.78%. Ashland's dividend payout ratio is -245.45%.

Ashland Company 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.