Ashland Inc (ASH) Options

News: $ASH Ashland announces agreement with Cruiser Capital

Cruiser Capital to vote for all Ashland nominees at 2019 and 2020 Annual Meetings Dr. William H. Joyce to serve as a consultant to Ashland on operations-related matters Board looks forward to input from Cruiser Capital along with other Ashland shareholders on previously announced ...

Read the whole news https://marketwirenews.com/news-releases/ashland-announces-agreement-with-cruiser-capital-7446396.html

News: $ASH Ashland mails letter to shareholders highlighting industry analyst and shareholder support

Ashland’s highly qualified nominees have expertise critical to its business Company illustrates commitment to board refreshment and working constructively with shareholders Urges shareholders to vote "FOR" board’s nominees on the BLUE proxy card COVINGTON, Kentucky...

Read the whole news https://marketwirenews.com/news-releases/ashland-mails-letter-to-shareholders-highlighting-industry-analyst-and-shareholder-support-6999298.html

News: $ASH Ashland files investor presentation highlighting transformation into pure-play specialty chemicals company

Board and management are executing on strategic plan to deliver value Urges shareholders to vote “FOR” Ashland’s highly qualified director nominees on the BLUE proxy card TODAY COVINGTON, Kentucky, Jan. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Global Holdings In...

Find out more https://marketwirenews.com/news-releases/ashland-files-investor-presentation-highlighting-transformation-into-pure-play-specialty-chemicals-company-6924456.html

News: $ASH Cruiser Capital Releases Detailed Presentation on Ashland

Highlights Ashland’s Clear, Urgent Operational and Corporate Governance Problems Demonstrates the Current Board’s Lack of Independence and Accountability to Stockholders, Efforts to Obfuscate the Facts, and Failure to Adequately Oversee Ashland’s Management ...

In case you are interested https://marketwirenews.com/news-releases/cruiser-capital-releases-detailed-presentation-on-ashland-6837746.html

Not much Margin Of Safety for Ashland $ASH going into earnings Monday...

Fair Value Analysis

http://investor.ashland.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=815599

lots of faulty websites on PE... What I do know is $85.60 that printed at open is coming around again. Chart features like that are compelling.

Then there was an article about them considering divesting some assets to "appease antsy investors". It's an unclear story in any case.

My understanding is that Yahoo's TTM PE is inaccurate. Many consider ASH's PE to be the lowest of the specialty chemical industry over a certain market cap of 1 Billion or so. I don't know who to believe when it comes to the price of ASH. The inaccuracies in the PE have something to do with the various acquisition and sales in the recent past. I don't have the accounting chops to offer my opinion.

why would they buy so much of a company with a P/E twice that of the highest P/E competitor?

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/co?s=ASH+Competitors

Activist Hedge Fund buys 7.5% of Ashland Stock.

http://beta.fool.com/takeoveranalyst/2012/12/11/dont-avoid-chemical-stocks-just-diversify-hedge/18510/?ticker=ASH&source=eogyholnk0000001

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/17/ashland-idUKL4E8GH6IJ20120517

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 17, 2012


ASHLAND INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




Kentucky
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



1-32532 20-0865835
(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard
P.O. Box 391
Covington, Kentucky 41012-0391
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (859) 815-3333


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 8.01 . Other Events


Today, Ashland Inc. (the “Company”) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors intends to increase the annual dividend to 90 cents per share from its current annual rate of 70 cents per share, commencing with the June 15, 2012 dividend payment.

The increase in annual dividend is discussed further in the news release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.



Item 9.01 . Financial Statements and Exhibits


(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Description

99.1 News Release dated May 17, 2012.


-2-



SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


ASHLAND INC.

(Registrant)


May 17, 2012
/s/ Lamar M. Chambers

Lamar M. Chambers

Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer


-3-





EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Description

99.1
News Release dated May 17, 2012.

<<< $ASH Links! >>> ~ MAC's Quick DD Links without the charts.




PennyStockTweets ~ http://www.pennystocktweets.com/stocks/profile/ASH


OTC Markets Company Info ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/company-info
OTC Markets Charts ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/chart
OTC Markets Quote ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/quote
OTC Markets News ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/news
OTC Markets Financials ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/financials
OTC Markets Short Sales ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/short-sales
OTC Markets Insider Disclosure ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/insider-transactions
OTC Markets Research Reports ~ http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ASH/research


Google Finance Summary ~ http://www.google.com/finance?q=ASH
Google Finance News ~ http://www.google.com/finance/company_news?q=ASH
Google Finance Option chain ~ http://www.google.com/finance/option_chain?q=ASH
Google Finance Financials ~ http://www.google.com/finance?q=ASH&fstype=ii#
Google Finance Historical prices Daily ~ http://www.google.com/finance/historical?q=ASH
Google Finance Historical prices Weekly ~ http://www.google.com/finance/historical?q=ASH&histperiod=weekly#


Y! < Company >
Y! Profile ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ASH+Profile
Y! Key Stat's ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=ASH+Key+Statistics
Y! Headlines ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=ASH+Headlines
Y! Summary ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ASH
Y! Historical Prices ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=ASH+Historical+Prices
Y! Order Book ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ecn?s=ASH+Order+Book
Y! Message Boards ~ http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/ASH
Y! Market Pulse ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/marketpulse/ASH
Y! Technical Analysis ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?s=ASH+Basic+Tech.+Analysis
Y! < Analyst Coverage >
Y! Analyst Opinion ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ao?s=ASH+Analyst+Opinion
Y! Analyst Estimates ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ae?s=ASH+Analyst+Estimates
Y! Research Reports ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/rr?s=ASH+Research+Reports
Y! Star Analysts ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/sa?s=ASH+Star+Analysts
Y! < Ownership >
Y! Major Holders ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=ASH+Major+Holders
Y! Insider Transactions ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=ASH+Insider+Transactions
Y! Insider Roster ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ir?s=ASH+Insider+Roster
Y! < Financials >
Y! Income Statement ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=ASH+Income+Statement&annual
Y! Balance Sheet ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=ASH+Balance+Sheet&annual
Y! Cash Flow ~ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cf?s=ASH+Cash+Flow&annual


FINVIZ ~ http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=ASH&ty=c&ta=0&p=d


Investorshub Trades ~ http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=trades&symbol=ASH
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Investorshub PostStream ~ http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/poststream.aspx?ticker=ASH
Investorshub Messages ~ http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearch.aspx?SearchStr=ASH
Investorshub Videos ~ http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=ihvse&ihvqu=ASH
Investorshub News ~ http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=news&btn=s_ok&ctl00%24sb3%24tbq1=Get+Quote&as_values_IH=&ctl00%24sb3%24stb1=Search+iHub&symbol=ASH&s_ok=OK&from_month=3&from_day=15&from_year=2012&order=desc&selsrc%5B%5D=prnca&selsrc%5B%5D=prnus&selsrc%5B%5D=zacks&selsrc%5B%5D=money2&selsrc%5B%5D=djn&selsrc%5B%5D=bw&selsrc%5B%5D=globe&selsrc%5B%5D=edgar&selsrc%5B%5D=mwus&force=1&last_ts=1331855999&p_n=1&p_count=&p_ts=1331794260


CandlestickChart ~ http://www.candlestickchart.com/cgi/chart.cgi?symbol=ASH&exchange=US


Barchart Quote ~ http://barchart.com/quotes/stocks/ASH?
Barchart Detailed Quote ~ http://barchart.com/detailedquote/stocks/ASH
Barchart Options Quotes ~ http://barchart.com/options/stocks/ASH
Barchart Technical Chart ~ http://barchart.com/charts/stocks/ASH&style=technical
Barchart Interactive Chart ~ http://barchart.com/charts/stocks/ASH&style=interactive
Barchart Technical Analysis ~ http://barchart.com/technicals/stocks/ASH
Barchart Trader's Cheat Sheet ~ http://barchart.com/cheatsheet.php?sym=ASH
Barchart Barchart Opinion ~ http://barchart.com/opinions/stocks/ASH
Barchart Snapshot Opinion ~ http://barchart.com/snapopinion/stocks/ASH
Barchart News Headlines ~ http://barchart.com/news/stocks/ASH
Barchart Profile ~ http://barchart.com/profile//ASH
Barchart Key Statistics ~ http://barchart.com/profile.php?sym=ASH&view=key_statistics


OTC: American Bulls ~ http://www.americanbulls.com/StockPage.asp?CompanyTicker=ASH&MarketTicker=OTC&TYP=S
NASDAQ: American Bulls ~ http://www.americanbulls.com/StockPage.asp?CompanyTicker=ASH&MarketTicker=NASD&TYP=S
NYSE: American Bulls ~ http://www.americanbulls.com/StockPage.asp?CompanyTicker=ASH&MarketTicker=NYSE&Typ=S


Marketwatch Profile ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/profile
Marketwatch Analyst Estimates ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/analystestimates
Marketwatch Historical Quotes ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/historical
Marketwatch Financials ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/financials
Marketwatch Overview ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH
Marketwatch SEC Filings ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/secfilings
Marketwatch Picks ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/picks
Marketwatch Hulbert ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/hulbert
Marketwatch Insider Actions ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/insideractions
Marketwatch Options ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/options
Marketwatch Charts ~ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ASH/charts
Marketwatch News ~ http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/news/symbolsearch/symbolnews.asp?news=markadv&symb=ASH&sid=1795093&framed=False


The Lion ~ http://thelion.com/bin/aio_msg.cgi?cmd=search&msg=&si=1&tw=1&tt=1&rb=1&ih=1&fo=1&iv=1&yf=1&sa=1&fb=1&gg=1&symbol=ASH


Search NYSE ~ http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=ASH


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StockHouse Delayed LII ~ http://www.stockhouse.com/financialtools/sn_level2.aspx?qm_page=46140&qm_symbol=ASH


AlphaTrade ~ http://tools.alphatrade.com/index.php?t1=mc_quote_module&t2=mc_quote_module2&t3=historical&template=historical2html&sym=ASH&client_id=2740&a_width=680&a_height=1000&language=english&showVol=1&chtype=8


Reuters ~ http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyOfficers?symbol=ASH.PK&WTmodLOC=C4-Officers-5


StockWatch ~ http://www.stockwatch.com/Quote/Detail.aspx?symbol=ASH®ion=U


Search NASDAQ ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH
NASDAQ Divy History ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/dividend-history
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NASDAQ Institutional Ownership ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/institutional-holdings
NASDAQ FlashQuotes ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/flashquotes.aspx?symbol=ASH&selected=ASH
NASDAQ InfoQuotes ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/infoquotes.aspx?symbol=ASH&selected=ASH
NASDAQ After Hours Quote ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/after-hours
NASDAQ Pre-Market Quote ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/premarket
NASDAQ Historical Quote ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/historical
NASDAQ Option Chain ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/option-chain
NASDAQ Company Headlines ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/news-headlines
NASDAQ Press Releases ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/news-headlines
NASDAQ Sentiment ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/sentiment
NASDAQ Analyst Summary ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/analyst-research
NASDAQ Guru Analysis~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/guru-analysis
NASDAQ Stock Report ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/stock-report
NASDAQ Competitors ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/competitors
NASDAQ Stock Consultant ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/stock-consultant
NASDAQ Stock Comparison ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/stock-comparison
NASDAQ Call Transcripts ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/call-transcripts
NASDAQ Annual Reports ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/annualreport.aspx?symbol=ASH&selected=ASH
NASDAQ Financials ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/financials
NASDAQ Revenue & Earnings Per Share (EPS) ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/revenue-eps
NASDAQ SEC Filings ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/sec-filings
NASDAQ Ownership Summary ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/ownership-summary
NASDAQ Institutional Ownership ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/institutional-holdings
NASDAQ (SEC Form 4) ~
--------- All Trades ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/insider-trades
--------- Buys ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/insider-trades/buys
--------- Sells ~ http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ASH/insider-trades/sells


The Motley Fool ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH.aspx
The Motley Fool Earnings/Growth ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH/EarningsGrowthRates.aspx?source=itxsittst0000001
The Motley Fool Ratios ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH/Ratios.aspx?source=itxsittst0000001
The Motley Fool Stats ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH/Stats.aspx?source=icasittab0000006
The Motley Fool Historical ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH/Historical.aspx?source=icasittab0000004
The Motley Fool Scorecard ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH/Scorecard.aspx?source=icasittab0000003
The Motley Fool Statements ~ http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/ASH/Statements.aspx?source=icasittab0000009


MSN Money ~ http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/stock-ratings?symbol=ASH


YCharts ~ http://ycharts.com/companies/ASH
YCharts Performance ~ http://ycharts.com/companies/ASH/performance
YCharts Dashboard ~ http://ycharts.com/companies/ASH/dashboard


InsideStocks Opinion ~ http://www.insidestocks.com/texpert.asp?sym=ASH&code=XDAILY
InsideStocks Profile ~ http://www.insidestocks.com/profile.asp?sym=ASH&code=XDAILY
InsideStocks Quote ~ http://www.insidestocks.com/quote.asp?sym=ASH&code=XDAILY
InsideStocks Projection ~ http://charts3.barchart.com/procal.asp?sym=ASH


Zacks Quote ~ http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/ASH
Zacks Estimates ~ http://www.zacks.com/research/report.php?type=estimates&t=ASH
Zacks Company Reports ~ http://www.zacks.com/research/report.php?type=report&t=ASH


Knobias ~ http://knobias.10kwizard.com/files.php?sym=ASH


StockScores ~ http://www.stockscores.com/quickreport.asp?ticker=ASH


Trade-Ideas ~ http://www.trade-ideas.com/StockInfo/ASH/HOT_TOPIC.html


Morningstar ~ http://performance.morningstar.com/stock/performance-return.action?region=USA&t=ASH&culture=en-US
Morningstar Shareholders ~ http://investors.morningstar.com/ownership/shareholders-overview.html?t=ASH®ion=USA&culture=en-us
Morningstar Transcripts~ http://www.morningstar.com/earnings/NoTranscript.aspx?t=ASH®ion=USA
Morningstar Key Ratios ~ http://financials.morningstar.com/ratios/r.html?t=ASH®ion=USA&culture=en-US
Morningstar Executive Compensation ~ http://insiders.morningstar.com/trading/executive-compensation.action?t=ASH®ion=USA&culture=en-us
Morningstar Valuation ~ http://financials.morningstar.com/valuation/price-ratio.html?t=ASH®ion=USA&culture=en-us


CCBN (Thompson Reuters) ~ http://ccbn.aol.com/company.asp?client=aol&ticker=ASH


TradingMarkets ~ http://pr.tradingmarkets.com/?lid=leftPRbox&sym=ASH


OTCBB ~ http://www.otcbb.com/asp/SiteSearch.asp?Criteria=ASH&searcharea=e&image1.x=0&image1.y=0


Insidercow ~ http://www.insidercow.com/history/company.jsp?company=ASH&B1=Search%21


Forbes News ~ http://search.forbes.com/search/find?tab=searchtabgeneraldark&MT=ASH
Forbes Press Releases ~ http://search.forbes.com/search/find?&start=1&tab=searchtabgeneraldark&MT=ASH&pub=businesswire,prnewswire&searchResults=pressRelease&tag=pr&premium=on
Forbes Web ~ http://search.forbes.com/search/web?MT=UNGS&start=1&max=10&searchResults=web&tag=web&sort=null


YouTube Symbol Search ~ http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ASH


Buy-Ins ~ http://www.buyins.net/tools/symbol_stats.php?sym=ASH


Quotemedia ~ http://www.quotemedia.com/results.php?qm_page=47556&qm_symbol=ASH


Earnings Whispers ~ http://www.earningswhispers.com/stocks.asp?symbol=ASH

Bloomberg Snapshot ~ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=ASH
Bloomberg People ~ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/people.asp?ticker=ASH

Financial Times ~ http://markets.ft.com/Research/Markets/Tearsheets/Summary?s=ASH

Investorpoint ~ http://www.investorpoint.com/ enter "ASH" and click search.

Hotstocked ~ http://www.hotstocked.com/ enter "ASH" and click search.

Raging Bull ~ http://ragingbull.quote.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=ASH

Hoovers ~ http://www.hoovers.com/search/company-search-results/100003765-1.html?type=company&term=ASH

DD Machine ~ http://www.ddmachine.com/default.asp?m=stocktool_frame.asp?symbol=ASH

SEC Form 4 ~ http://www.secform4.com/insider/showhistory.php?cik=ASH

OTCBB Pulse ~ http://www.otcbbpulse.com/cgi-bin/pulsequote.cgi?symbol=ASH

Failures To Deliver ~ http://failurestodeliver.com/default2.aspx enter "ASH" and click search.

http://www.coordinatedlegal.com/SecretaryOfState.html

http://regsho.finra.org/regsho-Index.html

http://www.shortsqueeze.com/?symbol=ASH&submit=Short+Quote%99



DTCC (PENSON/TDA) Check - (otc and pinks) - Note ~ I did not check for this chart blast. However, I try and help you to do so with the following links.
IHUB DTCC BOARD SEARCH #1 http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearchbyboard.aspx?boardID=18682&srchyr=2011&SearchStr=ASH
IHUB DTCC BOARD SEARCH #2: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearchbyboard.aspx?boardID=14482&srchyr=2011&SearchStr=ASH
Check those searches for recent ASH mentions. If ASH is showing up on older posts and not on new posts found in link below, The DTCC issues may have been addressed and fixed. Always call the broker if your security turns up on any DTCC/PENSON list.
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearchbyboard.aspx?boardID=18682&srchyr=2011&SearchStr=Complete+list
For a complete list see the pinned threads at the top here ---> http://tinyurl.com/TWO-OLD-FARTS



MACDlinks

~ Tuesday! $ASH ~ Q1 Earnings posted, pending or coming soon! In Charts and Links Below!

~ $ASH ~ Earnings expected on Tuesday *
Want more like this? Search Keyword: MACMONEY >>> http://tinyurl.com/MACMONEY <<<
One or more of many earnings sites has alerted this security has or will be posting earnings on or around the day of this message.








http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=ASH&p=D&b=3&g=0&id=p88783918276&a=237480049




http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=ASH&p=W&b=3&g=0&id=p54550695994



~ Google Finance: http://www.google.com/finance?q=ASH
~ Google Fin Options: hhttp://www.google.com/finance/option_chain?q=ASH#
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Stats: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=ASH+Key+Statistics
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Profile: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ASH
Finviz: http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=ASH
~ BusyStock: http://busystock.com/i.php?s=ASH&v=2


<<<<<< http://www.earningswhispers.com/stocks.asp?symbol=ASH >>>>>>



http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/post_prvt.aspx?user=251916

*If the earnings date is in error please ignore error. I do my best.

Playbook game plan for ASH on 12/01/2011

Here's our thoughts:

Playbook game plan for ASH on 10/28/2011

Here's our thoughts:

the acquisition of hercules opened ashland up to a whole massive opportunity regarding upsells.

ashland is more of a commodities chenical provider. hercules has relationships with companies who don't use ashland for the commodity chemical supply. the supply lines exist anyway, and the sales forces are on site...

it's a serious opportunity for ashland to increase sales...a very smart move by ashland to do the acquisition.

i don't know why so many people look at the deal poorly...

Will Ashland Channel Ben Graham?

From Hard Assets Investor (excerpt):

"Benjamin Graham, were he still alive, would likely be having a field day picking through today's market wreckage for bargains. Graham, the granddad of value investing and mentor to Warren Buffett, earned a reputation for deep-discount investing in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash.

Just as there were valuable bargains to be struck in the aftermath of the '29 collapse, there are enticing buys to be made now...

Take the stocks in the Basic Materials sector as examples. This segment, made up of companies in the chemical, mining, industrial metals and forestry/paper industries, was brutalized after a five-year bull run. In just five months, between June and November 2008, the Dow Jones US Basic Materials Sector Index lost nearly 59% of its value. Only recently has the benchmark started to show signs of stabilizing.

Among the stocks contributing to the index's decline was that of Ashland, Inc. (NYSE: ASH), a company Ben Graham would no doubt recognize. Well, old Ben would recognize part of the company, anyway. Originally founded in 1918 as Ashland Oil, the Kentucky-based company is now a diversified chemicals enterprise operating in four divisions.

What Ben Graham would see now if he were looking at Ashland is a company with surprisingly good fundamentals that's been chucked into the bargain basement along with a lot of sector dross."

Read the full article at http://www.hardassetsinvestor.com/features-and-interviews/1/1513-will-ashland-channel-ben-graham.html

Moody's cuts Ashland Inc.'s debt rating on buyout
Moody's lowers Ashland Inc.'s debt rating, citing higher leverage on Hercules buyout
November 14, 2008: 02:54 PM EST

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Moody's Investor Service lowered Ashland Inc.'s Corporate Family Rating further into junk status on Friday on concerns of weaker future performance and exposure to acquisition debt after the company bought paper chemicals manufacturer Hercules Inc.

Ashland spokesman Jim Vitak said that based on Ashland's share price Thursday, the deal was pegged at $3.1 billion, which includes Ashland assuming about $700 million in Hercules debt.

Moody's cut the chemical company's rating to Ba2 from Ba1 and said the outlook for the Kentucky-based company was negative.

The single-notch downgrade, a result of the company's higher leverage, was anticipated when Moody's rated Ashland's proposed acquisition debt in September 2008. The negative ratings outlook reflected Ashland's lower third-quarter earnings, expectations for a weak fourth quarter, 2009 and 2010 performance and the uncertainty over the global economic slowdown.

Shares of Ashland fell 31 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $17. 59. The 52-week share price ranges between $16.73 and $58.58.

Ouch--COVINGTON, Ky (Thomson Financial) - Specialty chemicals group Ashland Inc.
said it agreed to acquire Hercules Inc. in a $3.3 billion cash and stock deal.
Ashland said it will acquire all outstanding shares of Hercules for
$18.60 per share in cash and 0.093 of a share of Ashland common stock for each
share of Hercules common stock.
The deal also includes $0.7 billion of net assumed debt.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of calendar 2008, it said.

you still following Ashland? if so, what's your current opinion on it?

5-year Price Performance vs. Industry

I think it's just this crazy market. Many good stocks are dropping for no apparent reason. I was expecting the first week of January to be be "green" overall but I was mistaken.
I'm thinking a lot of the institutional holdings are being sold off in the overall market. I don't know what's going on.

Ashland getting wacked. Do you think it's because of mgt's decisions?

Looks like Ashland is starting to break out on the daily charts in the iBox...

So far the test is holding and Ashland's momentum indicators are starting to turn up. Should be a buy signal with a decisive close > 5-day EMA.

Looks like ASH is going to test the 57-58 area MrSparex. What are your thoughts?

chart is tripping over itself a bit...