We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
ASH Introduces Pricing Actions to Manage Market Volatility
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Ashland introduces pricing actions across portfolios to manage volatility in energy, materials and logistics.
ASH adjusts pricing by product and region to offset procurement, supply chain, and operating cost pressures.
The pricing adjustments are needed to sustain a reliable supply to customers.
Ashland Inc. (ASH - Free Report) has announced an implantation of a series of pricing actions across Life Sciences, Intermediates, Personal Care and Specialty Additives product portfolios. This is in response to the ongoing volatility in energy markets, raw material costs and logistics challenges from the conflict in the Middle East.
The pricing adjustments are required to sustain a reliable supply to customers under current market conditions. The actions are taken to mitigate cost pressures across procurement, supply chain and operations.
These actions differ by product and region, by adapting to local market dynamics, contractual terms and individual customer requirements. The strategies will evolve in line with the market dynamics. The company will continue to closely monitor market conditions.
ASH stock has lost 12.3% over the past year compared with the industry’s 2.3% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For fiscal 2026, Ashland expects sales to be in the range of $1.835-$1.905 billion and adjusted EBITDA to be $400-$420 million. Adjusted EPS, excluding intangible amortization, is forecast to deliver double-digit-plus growth on operating improvements and portfolio optimization, while free cash flow conversion is targeted at roughly 50% of adjusted EBITDA, with capital expenditure of about $100 million.
ASH’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
ASH currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) ,Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (BVN - Free Report) and Balchem Corporation (BCPC - Free Report) .
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.28 per share, indicating a rise of 60.39% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.77%. AEM’s shares have soared 74.5% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BVN’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $3.88 per share, indicating a 17.58% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 80.4%. BVN’s shares have jumped 104.7% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BCPC’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $5.47 per share, indicating a 6.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the four trailing quarters, while missing it in the remaining two.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
ASH Introduces Pricing Actions to Manage Market Volatility
Key Takeaways
Ashland Inc. (ASH - Free Report) has announced an implantation of a series of pricing actions across Life Sciences, Intermediates, Personal Care and Specialty Additives product portfolios. This is in response to the ongoing volatility in energy markets, raw material costs and logistics challenges from the conflict in the Middle East.
The pricing adjustments are required to sustain a reliable supply to customers under current market conditions. The actions are taken to mitigate cost pressures across procurement, supply chain and operations.
These actions differ by product and region, by adapting to local market dynamics, contractual terms and individual customer requirements. The strategies will evolve in line with the market dynamics. The company will continue to closely monitor market conditions.
ASH stock has lost 12.3% over the past year compared with the industry’s 2.3% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For fiscal 2026, Ashland expects sales to be in the range of $1.835-$1.905 billion and adjusted EBITDA to be $400-$420 million. Adjusted EPS, excluding intangible amortization, is forecast to deliver double-digit-plus growth on operating improvements and portfolio optimization, while free cash flow conversion is targeted at roughly 50% of adjusted EBITDA, with capital expenditure of about $100 million.
ASH’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
ASH currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) ,Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (BVN - Free Report) and Balchem Corporation (BCPC - Free Report) .
While AEM and BVN sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, BCPC carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.28 per share, indicating a rise of 60.39% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.77%. AEM’s shares have soared 74.5% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BVN’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $3.88 per share, indicating a 17.58% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 80.4%. BVN’s shares have jumped 104.7% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BCPC’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $5.47 per share, indicating a 6.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the four trailing quarters, while missing it in the remaining two.