Ashland Inc (NYSE:ASH) had its target price reduced by stock analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $110.00 to $102.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday, StockTargetPrices.com reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s target price indicates a potential upside of 10.64% from the company’s previous close.

In other Ashland news, CFO J Kevin Willis sold 1,173 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.38, for a total transaction of $130,648.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 12,806 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,426,332.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director George A. Schaefer, Jr. sold 2,937 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.85, for a total transaction of $319,692.45. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,736 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $406,663.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Shares of Ashland (NYSE:ASH) opened at 92.96 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $6.14 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.22. The company’s 50-day moving average is $100.43 and its 200-day moving average is $107.35. Ashland has a one year low of $91.23 and a one year high of $132.38.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 25th. The company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.02. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.46 earnings per share. The company had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. The business’s revenue was down 14.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Ashland will post $7.32 EPS for the current year.

A number of hedge funds and institutional investors recently made changes to their positions in the company. Saturna Capital raised its position in shares of Ashland by 0.6% in the third quarter. Saturna Capital now owns 16,223 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,632,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management raised its position in shares of Ashland by 99.6% in the third quarter. Eagle Asset Management now owns 37,138 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,736,000 after buying an additional 18,536 shares during the period. Janus Capital Management raised its position in shares of Ashland by 144.5% in the third quarter. Janus Capital Management now owns 246,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $24,753,000 after buying an additional 145,396 shares during the period. ICON Advisers raised its position in shares of Ashland by 34.0% in the third quarter. ICON Advisers now owns 208,910 shares of the company’s stock valued at $21,021,000 after buying an additional 53,000 shares during the period. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors raised its position in shares of Ashland by 268.9% in the fourth quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors now owns 137,790 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,149,000 after buying an additional 100,440 shares during the period.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Ashland from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, November 6th. Deutsche Bank reduced their price objective on shares of Ashland from $140.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 5th. Monness Crespi & Hardt reduced their price objective on shares of Ashland from $136.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Seaport Global Securities reduced their target price on shares of Ashland from $152.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 13th. Finally, Jefferies Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of Ashland in a research report on Thursday, December 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Ashland presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $132.20.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) is a specialty chemical company that provides products, services and solutions to industries. The Company’s segments are: Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers products, technologies and resources in key markets including personal and home care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings, construction, energy and other industries; Ashland Water Technologies is a supplier of specialty chemicals and services to the pulp, paper, mining, food and beverage, power generation, refining, chemical processing, general manufacturing and municipal markets. Ashland Performance Materials helps customers to create substitutes for traditional materials through higher performing, cost-efficient resin and adhesive technologies that improve the manufacturing, fabrication and design process, and Ashland Consumer Markets delivers premium-branded automotive, commercial and industrial lubricants, automotive chemicals and car-care products.

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