FY2025 EPS Estimates for Ashland Reduced by Seaport Res Ptn

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) – Equities research analysts at Seaport Res Ptn decreased their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for Ashland in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, December 11th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison now expects that the basic materials company will post earnings per share of $4.48 for the year, down from their previous estimate of $4.70. The consensus estimate for Ashland’s current full-year earnings is $4.52 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Ashland’s Q2 2026 earnings at $1.59 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $5.94 EPS.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The basic materials company reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by ($0.02). Ashland had a return on equity of 7.43% and a net margin of 7.95%. The company had revenue of $522.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $524.07 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.41 EPS. Ashland’s quarterly revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Ashland from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Ashland from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Ashland from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ashland presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $102.00.

Ashland Price Performance

Shares of Ashland stock opened at $74.78 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $81.36 and its 200-day moving average price is $88.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.52 billion, a PE ratio of 22.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.86. Ashland has a 12 month low of $72.83 and a 12 month high of $102.50. The company has a current ratio of 2.44, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ashland

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 866,320 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Ashland by 12.3% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,598,602 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $226,000,000 after acquiring an additional 284,215 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Ashland by 616.6% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 189,175 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $17,875,000 after acquiring an additional 162,776 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Ashland during the second quarter valued at $14,346,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Ashland by 407.2% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 139,718 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $13,202,000 after purchasing an additional 112,169 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.95% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Ashland news, SVP Robin E. Lampkin sold 868 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.90, for a total value of $67,617.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,883 shares in the company, valued at approximately $224,585.70. This represents a 23.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Eric N. Boni sold 451 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.07, for a total transaction of $35,209.57. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 14,182 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,188.74. This trade represents a 3.08 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.69% of the company’s stock.

Ashland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, December 1st will be given a $0.405 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Ashland’s dividend payout ratio is 48.36%.

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.