Ashland (NYSE:ASH – Get Rating) had its price target boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from $143.00 to $148.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday, The Fly reports.
A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Ashland from $122.00 to $120.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 19th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Ashland from $113.00 to $107.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 18th. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Ashland from $138.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 19th. Credit Suisse Group started coverage on shares of Ashland in a research note on Monday, September 12th. They set an outperform rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Ashland from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 13th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $124.22.
Get Ashland alerts:Ashland Stock Up 0.1 %
ASH stock opened at $97.12 on Friday. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $102.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $101.49. The company has a market capitalization of $5.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.11 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 3.30 and a quick ratio of 2.20. Ashland has a 12 month low of $83.29 and a 12 month high of $112.91.
Ashland (NYSE:ASH – Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 26th. The basic materials company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.22. Ashland had a net margin of 38.83% and a return on equity of 10.33%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.22 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ashland will post 5.66 earnings per share for the current year.Ashland Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 1st were given a $0.335 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 31st. This represents a $1.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.38%. Ashland's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.43%.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ashland
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASH. ACG Wealth purchased a new stake in shares of Ashland during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Ashland during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of Ashland by 245.3% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 328 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of Ashland during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Kenfarb & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Ashland during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. 93.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Ashland Company Profile
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Ashland Inc provides additives and specialty ingredients worldwide. It operates through Life Sciences; Personal Care & Household; Specialty Additives; and Intermediates and Solvents 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.
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