ASH
Basic MaterialsAshland Inc. · Chemicals - Specialty · $3B
What is Ashland Inc.?
Ashland Inc. is a global specialty chemicals company focused on additives and ingredients for pharmaceuticals, personal care, and industrial applications. Headquartered in Wilmington, the company serves customers across a wide range of end markets worldwide.
Ashland generates revenue by formulating and supplying specialty ingredients to manufacturers in life sciences, personal care, and industrial sectors. Its pharmaceutical segment provides polymers, coatings, and binders used in drug delivery. The personal care segment supplies nature-derived and biodegradable ingredients for cosmetics and oral care products. The specialty additives segment serves industrial customers with rheology modifiers, foam control agents, and advanced ceramics. A smaller intermediates and solvents segment rounds out the portfolio.
Ashland was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Pharmaceutical excipients including controlled-release polymers and tablet coatings
- Nature-based personal care and oral care ingredients
- Industrial rheology modifiers and foam control agents
- Advanced ceramics for catalytic converters and environmental filters
- Nutraceutical and nutrition additives for consumer wellness products
Is ASH a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates ASH as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.
The most constructive elements of Ashland's profile are its Risk and Valuation pillars. The Risk pillar is rated Good, suggesting the balance sheet and financial stability are relatively sound for a mid-cap specialty chemicals company. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, meaning the stock may not be pricing in a premium relative to its fundamentals.
The Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars are all rated Weak, pointing to challenges in profitability, competitive differentiation, and near-term expansion prospects that weigh on the overall score.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does ASH pay dividends?
Yes — Ashland Inc. pays a dividend.
Ashland pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-oriented investors in the specialty chemicals space. The dividend reflects the company's intent to return capital to shareholders even as it navigates a challenging growth environment. Investors should weigh the sustainability of the payout against the Weak Quality and Growth pillar ratings before relying on it as a primary return driver.
When does ASH report earnings?
Ashland reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Given the Weak Growth pillar rating, recent quarters have reflected subdued top-line momentum and profitability pressures typical of specialty chemical companies facing softer end-market demand. The Good Risk rating suggests financial resilience has been maintained despite these headwinds.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Ashland's investor relations page directly.
ASH Price History
-33.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Ashland Inc.?
Based on Ashland Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
ASH Long-term Outlook
Ashland's fundamental outlook is shaped by a Weak Growth pillar alongside an Attractive Valuation, a combination that suggests the market may already be discounting a muted near-term trajectory. The Good Risk pillar provides some confidence that the company can weather a slow-growth period without acute financial stress. A recovery in pharmaceutical and personal care end markets could serve as a catalyst, though the Weak Moat rating limits confidence in durable margin expansion.
Growth drivers
- Recovery in pharmaceutical ingredient demand as drug pipeline activity increases
- Growing consumer preference for nature-derived and biodegradable personal care ingredients
- Potential portfolio optimization or divestitures to sharpen focus on higher-margin segments
Key risks
- Weak competitive moat leaves pricing power vulnerable to specialty chemical peers
- Subdued industrial demand could weigh on the specialty additives and solvents segments
- Elevated input cost volatility common to the basic materials sector
ASH vs Peers
Ashland operates in a competitive specialty chemicals landscape alongside peers with distinct business focuses.
Ingevity concentrates on performance chemicals and carbon materials derived from pine-based byproducts, giving it a differentiated raw material base compared to Ashland's broader ingredient portfolio.
WD-40 is a consumer-facing brand-driven business, contrasting sharply with Ashland's business-to-business specialty ingredient model.
Olin is a larger-scale producer of chlorine-based chemicals and ammunition, operating in more commoditized markets than Ashland's specialty additives focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ashland Inc. do?
Ashland formulates and supplies specialty additives and ingredients to manufacturers across pharmaceuticals, personal care, and industrial markets. Its products include pharmaceutical excipients, nature-derived cosmetic ingredients, rheology modifiers, and advanced ceramics. The company operates globally through four business segments.
Does ASH pay dividends?
Yes, Ashland pays a regular dividend. Income-focused investors should review the payout in the context of the company's Weak Quality and Growth pillar ratings to assess sustainability. Full dividend metrics are available to UQS Pro members.
When does ASH report earnings?
Ashland reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. The company does not pre-announce exact dates far in advance, so investors should check Ashland's investor relations page for the current earnings calendar.
Is ASH a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates ASH as Below Average overall. While the Valuation pillar is Attractive and the Risk pillar is Good, the Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars are all rated Weak. Whether that profile suits your portfolio depends on your investment criteria — view the full breakdown with a Pro account.
Is ASH overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for ASH is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. However, an attractive valuation alone does not offset the Weak Quality and Growth ratings. See the complete valuation metrics with a UQS Pro membership.
How does ASH compare to its competitors?
Ashland competes with specialty and commodity chemical companies including Ingevity, WD-40, and Olin. Each peer has a distinct business model — from brand-driven consumer products to large-scale commodity chemicals. UQS Pro members can view side-by-side pillar comparisons across these peers.
What is ASH's market cap bracket?
Ashland is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer more growth optionality than large-caps but with greater volatility risk than mega-cap peers in the basic materials sector.
Who founded Ashland Inc.?
Ashland's corporate history traces back to its founding in 1980. Detailed founding history, including key executives involved in its formation, is widely available through the company's official corporate history and public filings.
Is ASH a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, ASH's Below Average UQS Score reflects concerns across Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars that are relevant to multi-year holding decisions. The Good Risk and Attractive Valuation pillars offer some offset. Long-term investors should review the full pillar analysis available to Pro members.
What is the main competitive advantage of Ashland?
Ashland's product breadth across pharmaceuticals, personal care, and industrial additives provides some diversification. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating that durable competitive advantages — such as pricing power or switching costs — are not strongly evident relative to sector peers.
What sector does ASH belong to?
Ashland is classified in the Basic Materials sector, specifically within specialty chemicals. This sector is sensitive to industrial demand cycles, raw material costs, and global manufacturing activity, all of which influence Ashland's revenue and margin profile.
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- ✓Track valuation changes with updated scoring each quarter
Pro Analysis
ASH — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 36.7 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 80.9 | -0.1 |
| May 22, 2026 | 36.8 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 81.6 | 0.0 |
| May 21, 2026 | 36.8 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 81.7 | -0.2 |
| May 20, 2026 | 37.0 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 83.0 | +0.2 |
| May 19, 2026 | 36.8 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 81.9 | -0.2 |
| May 16, 2026 | 37.0 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 83.1 | +0.1 |
| May 15, 2026 | 36.9 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 82.1 | +0.1 |
| May 14, 2026 | 36.8 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 81.9 | -0.1 |
| May 13, 2026 | 36.9 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 82.2 | -0.2 |
| May 12, 2026 | 37.1 | 27.8 | 15.0 | 30.7 | 51.3 | 83.7 | +0.1 |
ASH — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 27.8/100 (25%)Ashland Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 30.7/100 (20%)Ashland Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 51.3/100 (15%)Ashland Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 81.0/100 (15%)Ashland Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 15/100 (25%)Ashland Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ASH.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the ASH UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Ashland Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Ashland Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Ashland Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.