What is Ashland Inc.'s (ASH) StockRank?

MoatMap's StockRank for Ashland Inc. (ASH) is 59/100, with a Hold signal. This is a composite score combining Quality (41), Value (48), and Momentum (59) factor ranks across MoatMap's 20,000+ stock universe.

Does Ashland Inc. have an economic moat?

Ashland Inc. (ASH) has a Quality factor score of 41/100. The Quality factor combines ROIC, Piotroski F-Score, and leverage — the financial fingerprints of a durable competitive advantage. A Quality score above 70 typically indicates a company with the financial characteristics of a moated business.

Is Ashland Inc. a buy, hold, or sell?

MoatMap's current signal for Ashland Inc. (ASH) is Hold, based on a StockRank of 59/100. Signals are derived mechanically from the StockRank composite and should be one input among many — combine with your own thesis on management, competitive position, and valuation.

What sector is Ashland Inc. in?

Ashland Inc. (ASH) operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically the Specialty Chemicals industry (United States).

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ASH

HOLDREMOVE

Ashland Inc. · Basic Materials · United States · $2.6B · Avg Vol: $71M/d

StockRank

P/E (TTM)

—

ROE

-31.0%

D/E

0.8x

Dividend %

2.5%

Director Trades · 180d

None in 180d →

Buybacks · 180d

None in 180d →

AI CONVICTION THESIS

Ashland is a specialty chemicals company. While it has transitioned toward higher-margin life sciences and personal care ingredients, it remains highly sensitive to raw material and energy input costs, making it a net casualty of the energy risk premium.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Ashland Inc. is a global specialty chemicals company focused on providing differentiated products that enhance performance in diverse end markets, including personal care, pharmaceuticals, construction, and food & beverage. The company leverages its expertise in cellulose ethers and other specialty polymers to develop customized solutions, positioning itself as a critical supplier for innovative formulations. Ashland's competitive moat lies in its deep application knowledge and R&D capabilities for high-value additives.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY (USD)

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025	CAGR
Revenue	2.4B	2.2B	2.1B	1.8B	-8.6%
EPS	17.17	3.49	3.60	-18.37	-54.2%
Shares	54M	51M	47M	46M	-14.8%
Debt	1.4B	1.5B	1.5B	1.5B	2.5%
Equity	3.2B	3.1B	2.9B	1.9B	-16.1%
Op CF	-213M	243M	411M	94M	-37.8%
Inv CF	1.6B	-109M	-51M	-3M	—
Fin CF	-896M	-371M	-479M	-179M	—

PRICE (1M)+17.9%

SMA 50SMA 200

$64.36

RSI (14)

75.8

52W High

$67.20

From 52W High

1.0%

SCORE BREAKDOWN

Quality

ROIC

-17.9%14.7

ROE

-31.0%12.5

GP/Assets

13.1%51.3

Op. Margin

10.6%67.7

FCF/Assets

4.5%73.4

Piotroski

—51.5

Int. Cover

-12.3x15.2

D/E Ratio

0.79x18.6

Current Ratio

3.06x66.9

Value

P/E (TTM)

—N/A

EV/EBITDA

12.0x32.5

P/FCF

12.6x63.0

P/B

1.6x57.3

P/S

1.6x50.1

Div Yield

2.5%65.3

Momentum

52W High %

96%92.8

RS 6M

-0%57.0

SMA 50/200

1.03x46.2

EPS Rev 4W

—N/A

EPS Rev 12W

—N/A

EPS Improve

+130%72.0

Q Growth

-48%10.6

FUNDAMENTALS

Market Cap

$2.6B

P/E (Forward)

14.9x

Gross Margin

33.3%

SECTOR PEERS

Closest peers in Basic Materials, ranked by industry match, size, and score similarity. Cross-listings of ASH are excluded.

Ticker	Company	Mkt Cap	StockRank	Signal
ASH	Ashland Inc.(you)	$2.6B	59	HOLD
CLMT	Calumet, Inc.	$3.1B	58	HOLD
WDFC	WD-40 Company	$2.7B	67	BUY
HWKN	Hawkins, Inc.	$3.3B	63	HOLD
KWR	Quaker Chemical Corporation	$2.6B	68	BUY
CC	The Chemours Company	$3.4B	55	HOLD
NGVT	Ingevity Corporation	$2.4B	68	BUY
BCPC	Balchem Corporation	$5.1B	66	BUY
SXT	Sensient Technologies Corporation	$5.0B	67	BUY
SCL	Stepan Company	$1.2B	65	BUY

Peer medians: ROE 6.7% · P/E 22.2x · Gross margin 24.1%

Ashland Inc. (ASH) — Stock Score Summary

Ashland Inc. (ASH) has a MoatMap StockRank of 59/100 based on Quality (41/100), Value (48/100), and Momentum (59/100) factor scores. The current signal is HOLD. Ashland is a specialty chemicals company. While it has transitioned toward higher-margin life sciences and personal care ingredients, it remains highly sensitive to raw material and energy input costs, making it a net casualty of the energy risk premium.

Key Financial Metrics

Price	$64.36
Market Cap	$2.6B
P/E (Forward)	14.86
Price/Book	1.59
Return on Equity	-31.0%
Return on Invested Capital	-17.9%
Debt/Equity	79.21
Gross Margin	33.3%
Operating Margin	10.6%
Revenue Growth	0.6%
Dividend Yield	2.5%
Free Cash Flow	$208M

Ashland Inc. operates in the Specialty Chemicals industry, part of the Basic Materials sector (United States).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ashland Inc.’s (ASH) StockRank?: MoatMap’s StockRank for Ashland Inc. (ASH) is 59/100, with a Hold signal. It is a composite of Quality (41), Value (48), and Momentum (59) factor ranks across MoatMap’s 20,000+ stock universe.
Does Ashland Inc. have an economic moat?: Ashland Inc. (ASH) has a Quality factor score of 41/100. The Quality factor combines ROIC, Piotroski F-Score, and leverage — the financial fingerprints of a durable competitive advantage. A Quality score above 70 typically indicates a company with the characteristics of a moated business.
Is Ashland Inc. a buy, hold, or sell?: MoatMap’s current signal for Ashland Inc. (ASH) is Hold, based on a StockRank of 59/100. Signals are derived mechanically from the StockRank composite and should be one input among many — combine with your own thesis on management, competitive position, and valuation.
What sector is Ashland Inc. in?: Ashland Inc. (ASH) operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically the Specialty Chemicals industry (United States).