Seaport Res Ptn Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates for Ashland

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Seaport Res Ptn lowered their Q3 2025 earnings per share estimates for Ashland in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, March 5th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison now expects that the basic materials company will post earnings per share of $1.43 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.51. 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. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Ashland's Q4 2025 earnings at $1.45 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $4.36 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $5.60 EPS.

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

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Ashland Trading Down 2.1 %

Ashland stock traded down $1.27 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $58.38. The stock had a trading volume of 1,158,608 shares, compared to its average volume of 438,908. Ashland has a twelve month low of $56.46 and a twelve month high of $102.50. The stock has a market capitalization 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. 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 stock's 50-day simple moving average is $66.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $76.82.

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 for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.79 by ($0.51). Ashland had a negative net margin of 1.12% and a positive return on equity of 7.41%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.45 earnings per share.

Institutional Trading of Ashland

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Equitable Trust Co. increased its holdings in Ashland by 2.2% in the third quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 6,431 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $559,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its holdings in Ashland by 5.5% in the third quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 3,104 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Ashland by 5.4% in the third quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 3,532 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $307,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its holdings in Ashland by 6.2% in the fourth quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 3,590 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boothbay Fund Management LLC increased its holdings in Ashland by 5.7% in the fourth quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC now owns 5,225 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $373,000 after buying an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. 93.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Ashland

In other Ashland news, CEO Guillermo Novo bought 31,294 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $64.24 per share, with a total value of $2,010,326.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 31,294 shares in the company, valued at $2,010,326.56. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate 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. Stockholders of record on Saturday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.405 per share. This represents a $1.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.78%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Ashland's payout ratio is -245.45%.

About Ashland

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.