Ashland
About: Ashland Inc is a world-wide specialty materials company that serves a wide range of industrial markets. The company has a business-centric operating model and is organized into four distinct segments: life sciences, personal care, specialty additives, and intermediates. Key customers for the firm include pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of personal care products, food and beverages, and nutraceuticals and supplements. The life sciences segment derives maximum revenue. The company generates its sales from North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, and Others.
Employees: 3,200
0
Funds holding %
of 7,312 funds
–
Analysts bullish %
Fund manager confidence
Based on 2025 Q1 regulatory disclosures by fund managers ($100M+ AUM)
27% more repeat investments, than reductions
Existing positions increased: 133 | Existing positions reduced: 105
21% more first-time investments, than exits
New positions opened: 70 | Existing positions closed: 58
3% more funds holding
Funds holding: 356 [Q4 2024] → 365 (+9) [Q1 2025]
3.5% less ownership
Funds ownership: 94.51% [Q4 2024] → 91.01% (-3.5%) [Q1 2025]
20% less capital invested
Capital invested by funds: $3.18B [Q4 2024] → $2.54B (-$642M) [Q1 2025]
30% less call options, than puts
Call options by funds: $6.17M | Put options by funds: $8.81M
33% less funds holding in top 10
Funds holding in top 10: 3 [Q4 2024] → 2 (-1) [Q1 2025]
Research analyst outlook
2 Wall Street Analysts provided 1 year price targets over the past 3 months
Low target
$67
25%
upside
Avg. target
$70
31%
upside
High target
$73
37%
upside
2 analyst ratings
2 positive
100%
0 neutral
0%
0 negative
0%
UBS Joshua Spector | 37%upside $73 | Buy Maintained | 9 Jul 2025 |
JP Morgan Jeffrey Zekauskas | 25%upside $67 | Overweight Maintained | 6 May 2025 |
Financial journalist opinion
Positive
Zacks Investment Research
2 days ago
Ashland Advances Strategic $60M Manufacturing Network Optimization
ASH is closing two New Jersey sites as part of a $60M plan to boost efficiency, cut costs and scale key tech production.
Neutral
GlobeNewsWire
3 days ago
Ashland advances strategic $60MM network optimization
WILMINGTON, Del., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today provided an update on its $60 million manufacturing network optimization plan, a key initiative under its "execute" strategy. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational consistency and profitability, and improve the competitive position of core technologies, the company announced the closure of its manufacturing facility in Parlin, New Jersey, and the transfer of its hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) production from Parlin to its Hopewell, Virginia plant. This action is a critical step in building larger scale, improving costs across manufacturing sites and delivering the planned HEC network optimization savings in line with Ashland's timeline. The company also announced the closure of its Chatham, New Jersey plant, and the transfer of its microbial protection production to its Freetown, Massachusetts plant, making progress on the consolidation of its smaller plants into its larger manufacturing sites. Beyond the network optimization, Ashland continues to invest in its future.
Positive
Zacks Investment Research
1 month ago
Why Is Ashland (ASH) Up 3.9% Since Last Earnings Report?
Ashland (ASH) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock?
Neutral
GlobeNewsWire
1 month ago
Ashland hosts Innovation Day for analysts and investors
Wilmington, Del., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland will host an Innovation Day for analysts and investors at the company's Bridgewater, New Jersey facility on May 29, 2025. The event will showcase the enhanced capabilities and expanded applications of Ashland's scalable technology platforms. Registration is required with options to attend via live webcast or in person. To register, visit the following link: registration page
Neutral
PRNewsWire
2 months ago
Valvoline Inc. Announces Kevin Willis as Chief Financial Officer
Valvoline Inc. announces that Kevin Willis will become the Company's next Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective May 19, 2025 Current CFO, Mary Meixelsperger, whose planned retirement was announced October 2024, will remain with the company through a transition period LEXINGTON, Ky. , May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), the quick, easy, trusted leader in preventive automotive maintenance, today announced that Kevin Willis will succeed Mary Meixelsperger as Valvoline Inc.'s Chief Financial Officer effective May 19.
Neutral
GlobeNewsWire
2 months ago
Ashland board authorizes quarterly dividend
WILMINGTON, Del., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The board of directors of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.415 cents per share on the company's common stock which represents a 2.5 percent increase from the previous quarter.
Negative
Zacks Investment Research
2 months ago
Ashland's Q2 Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates, Down Y/Y
ASH's fiscal second-quarter sales are adversely impacted by the portfolio optimization actions.
Neutral
GlobeNewsWire
2 months ago
Ashland announces executive leadership changes
WILMINGTON, Del., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) announced today that Kevin Willis, senior vice president and chief financial officer, has decided to leave Ashland to pursue another opportunity. His last day with the company will be May 16, 2025.
Neutral
Seeking Alpha
2 months ago
Ashland, Inc. (ASH) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Ashland, Inc. (NYSE:ASH ) Q2 2025 Earnings Conference Call May 1, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company Participants William Whitaker - VP, Finance & Director, IR Guillermo Novo - Chairman & CEO John Willis - SVP, CFO & Principal Accounting Officer Alessandra Faccin - SVP and GM, Life Sciences and Intermediates James Minicucci - SVP & GM, Personal Care Dago Caceres - SVP & General Manager, Specialty Additives Conference Call Participants Kevin Estok - Jefferies Bhavesh Lodaya - BMO Capital Markets Jeff Zekauskas - JPMorgan David Begleiter - Deutsche Bank Josh Spector - UBS Michael Sison - Wells Fargo John Roberts - Mizuho Mike Harrison - Seaport Research Partners Operator Hello, and welcome to Ashland's Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to turn the conference over to William Whitaker.
Positive
Zacks Investment Research
2 months ago
Ashland (ASH) Q2 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates
The headline numbers for Ashland (ASH) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended March 2025, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-ago actuals.
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