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Ashland (NYSE: ASH): Upgraded To Buy From Hold At Keybanc

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:40:13 GMT

My favourite call today comes from Keybanc Capital Markets. They are upgrading Ashland (NYSE:ASH) to Buy from Hold and are establishing a $53 price target given improved confidence that Valvoline can keep rolling on higher profitability, cost savings initiatives are ahead of schedule and the Hercules franchises have good room for earnings growth. While the stock has had a strong run since March 2009, they believe it is still attractive trading at an estimated FY10 EV/EBITDA multiple of 4.5x. Firm's price target is based on an estimated FY10 EV/EBITDA multiple of 6.0x. - 2010 EPS Estimate Increased: Keybanc is raising their FY10 EPS estimate by $0.85 to $3.25 vs. their estimate of $3.00 for FY09.[More...]

Ashland (NYSE:ASH): JP Morgan Upgrades To Overweight

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:40:00 GMT

JP Morgan is out with a nice upgrade on Ashland (NYSE:ASH) taking their rating to Overweight from Neutral with a $17 tgt for Dec 2009. Firm notes Ashland's recent monthly volume and margin data probably point to meaningful improvements in cash flow, free cash flow and earnings. The gross margin is widening considerably at Valvoline due to resilient product prices and sharply lower raw material costs stemming from base oil price decreases. The gross margin appears to be moving up in Water Treatment, and Aqualon sales are only decreasing at a low-double-digit rate. They believe the sum of these improvements point to decreased financial risk. Firm expects Ashland to generate free cash flow of close to $4.00 per share for F2009 (ends September). The valuation of Ashland remains distressed, in[More...]

More Exposed than You Might Think

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:56:00 GMT

Two years ago, most people didn't pay much attention to the issue of counterparty risk. Nowadays, it is a constant source of worry for lenders, depositors, investors, and others. It's one thing to lose money because you made a bad bet. It's an altogether different kettle of fish, however, when you take a hit because a person or firm you do business with suddenly -- and unexpectedly -- goes under. Yet while most people are familiar with the risks that stem from traditional financial interactions, the current unraveling has made it clear that people are exposed to all sorts of other relationship-type risks. Some tenants, for instance, have found themselves out on the street even though they paid their rent on time because their landlords have been foreclosed upon. Some of those who work for others are also vulnerable in ways they might[More...]

Halloween Comes Early - Earnings Trends

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:41:00 GMT

Highlighted stocks include Amgen Inc (AMGN), Ashland Inc (ASH), EMC Corporation (EMC) and Terex Corporation (TEX). Important note: Keep your focus on the trends in estimates, not on the levels! An estimate in motion tends to stay in motion. Estimates are dropping rapidly, and nearly across the board. This means that the currently measured expectations for the fourth quarter and for 2009 are far too high. The growth rate expected[More...]

Chemical Stocks Rebound

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:49:00 GMT

At the end of a week of gloom and doom, stocks are finally on the rebound on Friday. Taking the cue, chemical shares too are on their way up after surviving a terrible Thursday when, according to AP, most of them took a nosedive following the announcement by four companies of force majeures -- a legal clause that excuses a party from liabilities for not being able to fulfill its obligations due to unforeseen developments -- thanks to the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Ike. But they threw off their shackles on Friday. Dupont (DD), which fell 46 cents to $45.24 a day earlier, was up by 3.77% to $47.67. Keeping it company was Dow Chemical (DOW), the only one to have bucked the pullback on Thursday, with a surge of 4.16% to trade at[More...]

Weekly Mergers and Acquisitions Report (07/14/2008 - 07/18/2008)

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:42:00 GMT

As widely reported and analyzed since yesterday (7/17), Commissioner Adelstein has issued a proposal to approve the companies' license transfer application contingent of significant concessions involving a six-year price cap on subscriptions[More...]

15 Stocks Ben Graham Would Like

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:28:38 GMT

Aircastle stock has taken a serious beating in the...[More...]

Ashland reports 4th-quarter profit

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:46:00 GMT

- Chemical maker Ashland Inc. on Wednesday reported a fiscal fourth-quarter profit, as the company cut costs to offset a sales decline.
The company bought specialty chemical business Hercules Inc. in November 2008, which affects the comparability of the results with the prior year period, the company said.
In midday trading, Ashland shares fell $5.56, or 14 percent, to $33.80.

: iStockAnalyst.com Symbols Feed

Ashland (NYSE: ASH): Upgraded To Buy From Hold At Keybanc

Ashland (NYSE:ASH): JP Morgan Upgrades To Overweight

More Exposed than You Might Think

Halloween Comes Early - Earnings Trends

Chemical Stocks Rebound

Weekly Mergers and Acquisitions Report (07/14/2008 - 07/18/2008)

15 Stocks Ben Graham Would Like

Ashland reports 4th-quarter profit

MGM Mirage, Monsanto, Boeing are big movers

Still scrambling, DuPont cuts 2,000 jobs - May 7 2009 4:00PM

Still scrambling, DuPont cuts 2,000 jobs - May 7 2009 11:08AM

Ocean Isle Seeks to Bury Utility Lines

Brunswick County Asks State to Broaden Property Tax Relief

Gov't to report on jobless claims as layoffs rise - Jan 29 2009 5:57AM

Gov't to report on jobless claims as layoffs rise - Jan 29 2009 3:55AM

Gov't to report on jobless claims as layoffs rise - Jan 29 2009 12:58AM

Fed ready to provide fresh aid to revive economy

Ashland Inc. Reports Preliminary Operating Income of $152 Million for Fiscal Third Quarter, Generates $355 Million of Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Ashland Inc. Board Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend

Ashland Inc. Announces Webcast of Fiscal Third-Quarter Earnings Presentation

Ashland Inc. Agrees to Sell its Marine Services Business

Video: Valvoline(R) Launches Unprecedented Engine Guarantee

Ashland Inc. Closes Offering of Senior Notes Due 2017, Repays $750 Million Bridge Loan

Ashland Inc. Announces Pricing of Senior Notes Due 2017

Ashland Inc. Board Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend

Ashland Inc. Announces Offering of Senior Notes Due 2017

Form 4 ASHLAND INC. For: Sep 15 Filed by: SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR (10K)

Form 3 Schumann Anne T. For: Aug 13 (10K)

Form 4 CHAMBERS LAMAR M For: Jul 28 (10K)

Form 4 MITCHELL SAMUEL J For: Jul 17 (10K)

Form 4 ASHLAND INC. For: Jul 17 Filed by: ESLER SUSAN B (10K)

Form 4 ASHLAND INC. For: Jul 17 Filed by: CHAMBERS LAMAR M (10K)

Form 4 Harris Theodore L For: Jul 15 (10K)

Form 4 ROHR MARK C For: Jun 15 (10K)

Form 4 Manager Vada O For: Jun 15 (10K)

Form 4 Turner John F For: Jun 15 (10K)