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

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) – Equities researchers at Seaport Res Ptn dropped their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Ashland in a research report issued on Wednesday, January 29th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Harrison now expects that the basic materials company will post earnings of $1.22 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.27. The consensus estimate for Ashland’s current full-year earnings is $4.27 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Ashland’s Q3 2025 earnings at $1.51 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.51 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $4.52 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $5.89 EPS.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Ashland from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Ashland from $81.00 to $68.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Ashland from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Ashland from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Ashland from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $95.57.

Ashland Price Performance

ASH stock opened at $64.56 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $71.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $81.07. The stock has a market cap of $3.05 billion, a PE ratio of -97.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.86. Ashland has a one year low of $60.60 and a one year high of $102.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 2.52 and a quick ratio of 1.27.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 business posted $0.45 EPS.

Ashland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, March 1st will be given a $0.405 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. Ashland’s payout ratio is currently -245.45%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Guillermo Novo purchased 31,294 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $64.24 per share, for a total transaction of $2,010,326.56. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 31,294 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,010,326.56. This represents a ∞ increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Robin E. Lampkin sold 868 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.90, for a total transaction of $67,617.20. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,883 shares in the company, valued at approximately $224,585.70. This trade represents a 23.14 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.02% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Algert Global LLC bought a new position in shares of Ashland during the second quarter valued at approximately $453,000. Creative Planning increased its position in Ashland by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 4,867 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $460,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its holdings in Ashland by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 8,292 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $721,000 after purchasing an additional 743 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Ashland by 193.1% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 381 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. Finally, Washington Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ashland by 62.9% during the 3rd quarter. Washington Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,700 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 2,200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.95% of the company’s stock.

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.