Seaport Res Ptn Has Pessimistic View of Ashland Q3 Earnings

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH - Free Report) - Research analysts at Seaport Res Ptn reduced their Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Ashland in a report released on Friday, July 18th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison now forecasts that the basic materials company will post earnings per share of $1.13 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.26. 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 $1.32 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $3.72 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $4.79 EPS.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.11). Ashland had a positive return on equity of 7.14% and a negative net margin of 5.74%. The business had revenue of $479.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $514.79 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.27 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Ashland from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group decreased their target price on Ashland from $74.00 to $73.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Wall Street Zen raised Ashland from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, June 27th. Mizuho set a $60.00 price target on Ashland in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Ashland from $71.00 to $67.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ashland currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $68.40.

Ashland Stock Down 3.7%

ASH stock traded down $1.97 on Monday, hitting $50.74. 412,067 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 430,374. Ashland has a 12-month low of $45.21 and a 12-month high of $98.44. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $51.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 2.32. The stock has a market cap of $2.32 billion, a P/E ratio of -21.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.51.

Ashland Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 15th. Investors of record on Sunday, June 1st were given a dividend of $0.415 per share. This is a boost from Ashland's previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. Ashland's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -69.17%.

Institutional Trading of Ashland

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Ashland by 276.4% in the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 12,392 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $735,000 after buying an additional 9,100 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA increased its position in shares of Ashland by 33.5% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,468 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 368 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ashland in the first quarter valued at approximately $273,000. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Ashland by 18.0% in the fourth quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 148,433 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $10,607,000 after buying an additional 22,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its position in shares of Ashland by 13.3% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 4,012 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $238,000 after buying an additional 471 shares in the last quarter. 93.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.