CCH Holdings prices IPO at $4 per share on NASDAQ
Investing.com - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) with an Equalweight rating and a $60.00 price target on Monday. Currently trading at $54.91, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is undervalued, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report.
The investment bank positioned Ashland within the chemicals quality-to-commodity spectrum, noting that the company has recently de-rated toward commodity names amid a prolonged turnaround story and concerns over less defensive core EBITDA. The company maintains strong financial fundamentals with a current ratio of 2.68, indicating liquid assets well exceed short-term obligations.
Morgan Stanley acknowledged that while the stock appears inexpensive with a relatively attractive Bull Case of $95 compared to a Bear Case of $35, confidence in key upside drivers depends on present-day EBITDA power being fully de-risked.
The firm identified self-help initiatives and innovation as potential catalysts for upside but expressed uncertainty about these factors materializing.
Morgan Stanley projects a wide range of potential outcomes for Ashland’s fiscal 2026 EBITDA, with Bear-to-Bull scenarios ranging from approximately $380 million to $480 million.
In other recent news, Ashland Inc . reported its fiscal third-quarter 2025 earnings, which fell short of analyst expectations. The company posted an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.04, below the anticipated $1.24, while revenue reached $463 million, missing the projected $476.58 million. Despite these results, Ashland announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.415 per share, payable on September 15, 2025, to shareholders on record as of September 1, 2025.
Analyst firms have provided mixed assessments of Ashland’s stock. BMO Capital increased its price target to $61, attributing this to a higher EBITDA estimate for 2026. In contrast, Argus lowered its price target to $65, citing reduced demand and inflationary pressures impacting Ashland’s recent earnings. However, Argus maintains a positive outlook, expecting conditions to improve and recognizing Ashland as a well-managed company. These developments provide investors with a varied perspective on Ashland’s financial health and future prospects.
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