US stock futures edge lower after S&P 500 hits record high; PCE data in focus
Investing.com - Argus has lowered its price target on Ashland Inc . (NYSE:ASH) to $65.00 from $70.00 while maintaining a Buy rating on the specialty chemical and additives provider. The stock, currently trading at $56.51, appears undervalued according to InvestingPro analysis, with analyst targets ranging from $53 to $79.
The research firm cited reduced demand and inflationary pressures that have hurt Ashland’s earnings in recent quarters, though it expects conditions to improve going forward. Argus views Ashland as a well-run company with a strong track record in its industry. InvestingPro data shows management’s commitment to shareholder returns through aggressive share buybacks, despite recent challenges.
Ashland outlined plans at its December investor day to divest businesses and invest in growth and cost reduction initiatives, which Argus believes can return the company to double-digit cash flow and earnings growth. Management has reiterated their restructuring plans and is on track to exceed their cost-saving goals.
The firm highlighted Ashland’s healthy product pipeline with multiple new innovations that will allow the company to take advantage of market trends. Ashland also maintains a clean balance sheet and pays an above-market dividend yield of 3.0%. Notably, the company has maintained dividend payments for 55 consecutive years and raised them for the past 6 years straight, according to InvestingPro data.
Argus noted that current valuation multiples represent a discount to both Ashland’s historical company multiples and the broad market, supporting its continued Buy rating despite the lower price target. With a current P/B ratio of 1.37 and analysts predicting profitability this year, the stock shows potential for value investors. Discover more insights and 8 additional ProTips about Ashland in the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively on InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Ashland Global Holdings Inc. reported its fiscal third-quarter 2025 earnings, which fell short of expectations. The company announced an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.04, missing the forecasted $1.24. Revenue also came in below projections, totaling $463 million compared to the expected $476.58 million. Despite these misses, Ashland declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.415 per share. This dividend will be paid to stockholders on September 15, 2025, for those on record as of September 1, 2025. These developments reflect the company’s ongoing financial activities and are significant for investors monitoring Ashland’s performance.
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