Q4 2025 EPS Estimates for Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) Lifted by Analyst

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) – Equities research analysts at Seaport Res Ptn raised their Q4 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Ashland in a report released on Monday, May 6th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison now expects that the basic materials company will post earnings of $1.74 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $1.73. The consensus estimate for Ashland’s current full-year earnings is $4.47 per share.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $1.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $575.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $574.64 million. Ashland had a return on equity of 5.57% and a net margin of 9.09%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on ASH. TheStreet raised Ashland from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. StockNews.com raised Ashland from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Ashland from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Ashland in a research note on Friday, March 1st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $108.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Ashland from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $126.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $106.44.

Ashland Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE ASH opened at $97.84 on Thursday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $95.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $87.44. The company has a market capitalization of $4.90 billion, a PE ratio of 25.95 and a beta of 0.92. Ashland has a 12-month low of $70.82 and a 12-month high of $99.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 3.15 and a quick ratio of 1.94.

Ashland Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, June 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.405 per share. This represents a $1.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This is a positive change from Ashland’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. Ashland’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ashland

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ashland in the first quarter worth $298,000. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Ashland by 40.0% in the 1st quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 89,600 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $8,724,000 after purchasing an additional 25,600 shares during the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Ashland by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 57,986 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $5,956,000 after purchasing an additional 2,217 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Ashland by 56.5% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 216,102 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $21,042,000 after purchasing an additional 78,013 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Qsemble Capital Management LP grew its stake in Ashland by 7.6% in the first quarter. Qsemble Capital Management LP now owns 4,315 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $420,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. 93.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.