For the quarter ended December 2023, Ashland (ASH - Free Report) reported revenue of $473 million, down 9.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.45, compared to $0.97 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $478.44 million, representing a surprise of -1.14%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +114.29%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.21.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Ashland performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Revenue- Intermediates: $33 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $36.08 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -38.9%.
- Revenue- Life Sciences: $200 million compared to the $203.33 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -3.4% year over year.
- Revenue- Personal Care: $129 million compared to the $130.94 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -6.5% year over year.
- Revenue- Specialty Additives: $122 million versus $127.24 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -14.7% change.
- Revenue- Intersegment sales: -$11 million versus -$16 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -35.3% change.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Life Science: $48 million versus $47.97 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Personal Care: $22 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $25.67 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Specialty Additives: $6 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $6.93 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Intermediates: $10 million compared to the $3.95 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Unallocated and other: -$27 million versus -$28 million estimated by two analysts on average.
View all Key Company Metrics for Ashland here>>>Shares of Ashland have returned -4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Ashland (ASH - Free Report) reported revenue of $473 million, down 9.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.45, compared to $0.97 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $478.44 million, representing a surprise of -1.14%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +114.29%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.21.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Ashland performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Revenue- Intermediates: $33 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $36.08 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -38.9%.
- Revenue- Life Sciences: $200 million compared to the $203.33 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -3.4% year over year.
- Revenue- Personal Care: $129 million compared to the $130.94 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -6.5% year over year.
- Revenue- Specialty Additives: $122 million versus $127.24 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -14.7% change.
- Revenue- Intersegment sales: -$11 million versus -$16 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -35.3% change.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Life Science: $48 million versus $47.97 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Personal Care: $22 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $25.67 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Specialty Additives: $6 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $6.93 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Intermediates: $10 million compared to the $3.95 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Unallocated and other: -$27 million versus -$28 million estimated by two analysts on average.
View all Key Company Metrics for Ashland here>>>Shares of Ashland have returned -4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>
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