| Ashland, Inc. | (NY: ASH) |
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May 25, 2013
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a diversified chemical company comprised of four major divisions: Ashland Distribution, Ashland Performance Materials, Valvoline, and Ashland Water Technologies. [1] Ashland Distribution distributes chemicals and plastics in North America and Europe.[2] The Performance Materials segment makes materials that are used in the construction and automotive industry. [3] Valvoline markets brand name lubricants for automobile engines.[4] Ashland Water Technologies is a supplier of chemicals used in water treatment and mining. [5]
Rising oil prices have decreased profit margins for Valvoline, because many of its lubricants use oil as a major input. [6] They also negatively effect Ashland Distribution by increasing transportation costs. [7] Additionally, downturns in the automotive and housing industries affect Ashland because they account for the majority of Performance Material’s revenue.
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) - Business Overview
- Business & Financial Metrics[14]
- Business Segments[15]
- Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients (10% of total revenue)
- Ashland Performance Materials (13% of total revenue)
- Ashland Consumer Markets (20% of total revenue)
- Ashland Hercules Water Technologies (20% of total revenues)
- Ashland Distribution (37% of total revenue)
- Key Trends and Forces
- Ashland is vulnerable to downturns in the housing, construction, automotive, and marine industries
- Rising Oil Prices drive up the costs of producing many of Ashland's petroleum based products
- Environmental legislation makes Ashland liable to asbestos lawsuits and clean-up costs at contaminated sites
- Competition
- Ashland Distribution
- Performance Materials & Water Technologies
- Valvoline
- References
