ASH

We rate ASHLAND INC. (ASH) as a Reduce with a composite score of 44.4/100 at a current price of $64.11. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential and elevated risk of underperformance relative to peers over the next 12 months.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (55th percentile) and stability (55th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in value (26th percentile) and quality (34th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (22/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: the path to profitability; valuation compression risk if growth disappoints. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

ASHLAND INC. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Wholesale Trade sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 44.4/100 places it at rank #2906 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $2.2B in market capitalization, ASHLAND INC. is a mid-cap player in the Wholesale Trade space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -33% combined with momentum at the 55th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 30% (+7.7pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -39% (-42.0pp vs sector) and net margins of -39.0%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -129%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $64.11, ASHLAND INC. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 26/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at P/B of 1.6x, P/S of 1.6x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to ASHLAND INC.. Key risk factors include current negative profitability (net margin -39.0%), weak quality scores (34th percentile), the combination of leverage (74% D/E) and thin margins (-39.0% net) amplifies downside risk. The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: current negative profitability (net margin -39.0%); weak quality scores (34th percentile); the combination of leverage (74% D/E) and thin margins (-39.0% net) amplifies downside risk. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 55th percentile and quality factor at the 34th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: a 3.42% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.

We rate ASHLAND INC.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-38.2%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -15.9%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — ASHLAND INC. significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, ASHLAND INC. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 44.4/100 (rank #2906 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (22/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 43/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on ASHLAND INC. at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, high uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.