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AshlandSTU:AHT 72 Gross Margin % is 34.21% as of Jun. 2026, which is 13% above its 10-year median of 30.40. GuruFocus rates STU:AHT with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of €55.30 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,558 Chemicals companies, Ashland ranks better than 68.36% on this metric.
Gross Margin % is calculated as gross profit divided by its revenue. Ashland's Gross Profit for the
three
months ended in Jun. 2026 was €148 Mil. Ashland's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Jun. 2026 was €431 Mil. Therefore, Ashland's Gross Margin % for the quarter that ended in Jun. 2026 was 34.21%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Ashland's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
STU:AHT'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 29.25 Med: 30.4 Max: 34.71
Current: 31.54
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of Ashland was 34.71%. The lowest was 29.25%. And the median was 30.40%.
STU:AHT's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 68.36% of 1558
companies
in the Chemicals industry
Industry Median: 23.545
vs STU:AHT: 31.54
Ashland had a gross margin of 34.21% for the quarter that ended in Jun. 2026 => Competition eroding margins
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for Ashland was -0.90% per year.
Ashland (STU:AHT) Gross Margin % Explanation
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
Ashland had a gross margin of 34.21% for the quarter that ended in Jun. 2026 => Competition eroding margins
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
Ashland Gross Margin % Related Terms
Ashland Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Ashland's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
STU:AHT vs FUL, WDFC, HWKN: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Ashland's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Ashland Gross Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Ashland's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Ashland's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
Ashland (STU:AHT) has a Gross Margin % of 34.21% as of Jun. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Ashland and its competitors. This is 13% above median its historical median of 30.40. Over the past decade, Ashland's Gross Margin % has ranged from 29.25 to 34.71. According to the industry distribution chart, Ashland ranks #493 out of 1558 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 31.6%.
Is Ashland's Gross Margin % too high?
Ashland's current Gross Margin % of 34.21% is 13% above median its 10-year median of 30.40. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 29.25 to a high of 34.71. The Chemicals industry median Gross Margin % is 23.55. Ashland's value of 34.21% is 45.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Ashland ranks #493 out of 1558 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Ashland has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ashland's Gross Margin % compare to FUL and WDFC?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Ashland ranks #493 out of 1558 companies for Gross Margin %. This puts Ashland in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 23.55. Ashland's value of 34.21% is 45.3% above this benchmark. Historically, Ashland's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 29.25 to 34.71 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 30.40 vs. the industry median of 23.55, Ashland has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Chemicals company?
The median Gross Margin % among Chemicals companies is 23.55, based on 1,558 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Ashland's current Gross Margin % of 34.21% is 45.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Ashland and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Gross Margin % is 23.55 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Ashland's current Gross Margin % is 34.21%, which is 13% above median its own 10-year median of 30.40. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ashland stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ashland (STU:AHT) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €55.30, compared to a current price of €59.00 — trading 6.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 34.21%, which is 13% above median its 10-year median of 30.40 and 45.3% above the Chemicals industry median of 23.55. Ashland's overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 9 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ashland (STU:AHT), the current Gross Margin % is 34.21% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Ashland (STU:AHT) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ashland stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €59.00 is trading 6.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of €55.30.
GuruFocus considers Ashland to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for STU:AHT:
Gross Margin %: 34.21% (13% above median its 10-year median of 30.40)
GF Value™: €55.30 vs. price of €59.00 (6.7% above fair value)
Industry Position: 45.3% above the Chemicals median (#493 of 1558)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:AHT stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Ashland Inc. is a specialty materials company serving markets including pharmaceuticals, personal care, food and beverages, coatings, construction, energy, and electronics. It operates through four segments: Life Sciences, Personal Care, Specialty Additives, and Intermediates. Life Sciences contributes the highest revenue, offering functional additives for pharmaceutical and nutrition applications. Personal Care provides ingredients for skin, hair, oral care, and household products, while Specialty Additives supplies performance-enhancing additives for coatings and. Intermediates produce BDO and related derivatives used in polymers, electronics, agriculture, and pharmaceutical applications. The company generates sales across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and regions.
72GF Score
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