Ashland Inc. provides additives and specialty ingredients across North and Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other international markets. It operates through four segments: Life Sciences, Personal Care, Specialty Additives, and Intermediates. The company was formerly known as Ashland Global Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Ashland Inc. in August 2022. Founded in 1924, it is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.
Ashland Launches Permexa Sodium Caprate for Oral Biologics
Ashland Inc. rolled out permexa sodium caprate on August 24, a specialized excipient engineered to help pharmaceutical clients convert injectable peptides and biologics into oral pill formulations. The ingredient enhances intestinal permeability to maximize drug absorption while improving powder flow and compressibility for large-scale tableting, targeting the GLP-1 and metabolic treatment markets. Ashland frames Permexa as the inaugural entry in a broader oral biologics pipeline, with pharmaceutical, biotech and CDMO partners already conducting technical evaluations and formulation trials ahead of launch. The launch lands within an accelerating Life Sciences division, where third-quarter fiscal 2026 sales, ended June 30, expanded 11% year over year to $180 million, marking five consecutive quarters of positive volume gains, while segment Adjusted EBITDA grew 11% to $60 million for a 33% margin. Companywide, however, Adjusted EBITDA slipped 4% year over year to $109 million as Specialty Additives and Intermediates weakened, and management trimmed its full-year adjusted EPS growth outlook from mid-to-high single digits to low-to-mid single digits, citing tax rate headwinds and elevated raw material and freight costs. Ashland has not attached a dollar figure to Permexa, and converting evaluations into multi-year commercial supply contracts typically requires several quarters.
Ashland has put a new US$1b share repurchase plan on the table, doubling its prior authorization as management leans into cost savings and portfolio pruning to support margins and free cash flow. The buyback news comes as Ashland's share price has slipped 5.24% over the past 30 days, though the stock's year-to-date share price return of 16.57% and 1-year total shareholder return of 38.46% point to momentum building around the cost savings and buyback story. Ashland's most followed valuation narrative pegs fair value at $80.18 against a last close of $69.77, a roughly 13% discount, while a separate earnings-based view flags the stock's P/E of 42.6x against a fair ratio of 26.6x, a US Chemicals sector average of 23.2x, and a peer group closer to 20.7x. The company's specialty chemicals portfolio is positioned around high-value, sustainable, and compliant solutions, which is expected to support top-line revenue growth and margin resilience over the long term. The story could still break if demand softness in key export markets keeps squeezing Specialty Additives, or if portfolio pruning leaves growth and earnings more fragile than expected.
Ashland Collecting Takeover Bids This Month as Apollo, Carlyle Circle
Ashland is collecting takeover bids this month, sending its shares up almost 1%, according to a report circulating Tuesday. Apollo Global and Carlyle Group are among the financial sponsors interested in the chemical maker, traders said, citing a DealReporter article. The update follows a Bloomberg report last month that Ashland was evaluating a possible sale after receiving takeover interest, with Advent, Apollo and Carlyle Group among those that had contacted the company. Standard Industries Inc., which through its investment platform Standard Investments LLC is among Ashland's biggest shareholders, is also interested, according to the Bloomberg report. Activist investors have been pushing for months for Ashland to explore a sale, and last month the company confirmed an agreement with activist investor Ancora Holdings to expand its board. Ashland is set to hold its innovation day on Thursday.
Ashland Inc.'s board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable on September 15, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 1, 2026. As of July 31, 2026, there were 45,805,711 shares of Ashland common stock outstanding.
Ashland reports third quarter 2026 sales of $497 million, reaffirms full-year outlook
Ashland Inc. reported third quarter fiscal 2026 sales of $497 million, up seven percent from the prior-year quarter, and reaffirmed its full-year sales and Adjusted EBITDA guidance. Income from continuing operations was $41 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, while Adjusted EBITDA declined four percent to $109 million. Sales volumes rose six percent across all business units, with Life Sciences and Personal Care driving growth, though lower Specialty Additives and Intermediates earnings weighed on profitability. The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 sales outlook of $1,835 to $1,870 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $385 to $400 million, while revising adjusted EPS growth expectations to low-to-mid single digits due to a higher tax rate.
Ashland nears settlement with activist Ancora Holdings
Ashland Inc. is nearing an agreement with activist investor Ancora Holdings that would expand the chemical maker's board. Under the settlement, two directors will be added to the board and a capital allocation committee will be created, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. The settlement may be announced as soon as Tuesday. The news follows reports that Ancora disclosed a significant stake and wants the company to pursue a sales process, believing Ashland could see at least $76 a share in a sale. Shares of Ashland rose 3.2% on Tuesday.
Ashland sets July 29 webcast for third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings
Ashland Inc. announced it will release its third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at approximately 5 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by a live webcast for securities analysts on Wednesday, July 29, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will feature an executive summary and detailed remarks from chair and CEO Guillermo Novo, CFO William Whitaker, and other senior leaders. A slide presentation will be posted in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website simultaneously with the webcast. An archived version of the webcast and supporting materials will be available for 12 months after the live event.
Marine collagen market projected to reach USD 1.66 billion by 2031
The global marine collagen market is projected to grow from USD 1.14 billion in 2026 to USD 1.66 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%. The liquid segment leads this growth, valued for its convenient and fast absorption benefits. Predominantly sourced from fish skin, scales, and muscles, marine collagen's nutritional products segment dominates, driven by its health benefits for skin, joints, and bones. Asia Pacific leads the market due to its abundant marine resources and rising demand for collagen-based nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Key players include Ashland, Darling Ingredients, Weishardt, and Nitta Gelatin.
4977.JP · Demand · Positive Market growth forecast for marine collagen, in which Nitta Gelatin is a key player, indicates rising demand for its products.
ASH · Demand · Positive Market growth forecast for marine collagen, in which Ashland is a key player, indicates rising demand for its products.
DAR · Demand · Positive Market growth forecast for marine collagen, in which Darling Ingredients is a key player, indicates rising demand for its products.
Weishardt Group · Demand · Positive Market growth forecast for marine collagen, in which Weishardt Group is a key player, indicates rising demand for its products.
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