Ascent Industries (ACNT) vs Ashland (ASH)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Ashland (ASH) has outperformed Ascent Industries (ACNT) over the past year, gaining 45.5% versus a gain of 11.8%. Over five years, ACNT leads with a +26.0% price change compared with -26.3% for ASH. Ashland is the larger company by market cap ($3.23 billion vs $122.1 million), about 26.5 times the size.
On valuation, Ashland trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 16.9x for Ascent Industries). Ashland pays a dividend yielding 2.36%, while Ascent Industries does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ACNT | ASH |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $13.55 | $70.57 |
| Market cap | $122.08M | $3.23B |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | -0.17% |
| YTD return | -16.31% | +20.28% |
| 1-year return | +11.80% | +45.51% |
| 5-year return | +26.05% | -26.29% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 45.24 |
| Forward P/E | 16.94 | 16.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.26 | $1.56 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.36% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.67 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $1.82B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | -13.68% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $-845.00M |
| Gross margin | — | 30.10% |
| Operating margin | — | -42.49% |
| Net margin | — | -46.33% |
| 52-week high | $17.92 | $78.25 |
| 52-week low | $11.86 | $47.12 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.39% | -9.81% |
| Analyst consensus | — | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +13.24% |
| Average volume | 39.45K | 679.01K |
| Shares outstanding | 9.01M | 45.79M |
| Employees | 197 | 2,900 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Major Chemicals | Specialty Chemicals |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ashland is about 26.5 times larger than Ascent Industries by market value ($3.23B vs $122.08M).
- ASH has outperformed ACNT by 33.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Ashland offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.36% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ascent Industries in Industrials and Ashland in Consumer Discretionary.
About Ascent Industries
ACNT stock →Ascent Industries Co. engages in the development, production, and distribution of specialty chemical solutions.
Industrials · Major Chemicals · 197 employees
About Ashland
ASH stock →Ashland Inc. provides additives and specialty ingredients in the North and Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Specialty Chemicals · 2,900 employees
ACNT vs ASH FAQ
Which is bigger, Ascent Industries or Ashland?
Ashland (ASH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.23B compared with $122.08M for Ascent Industries (ACNT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ACNT or ASH?
ASH returned +45.51% over the past 12 months, compared with +11.80% for ACNT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ascent Industries or Ashland?
Ashland pays a dividend yielding 2.36%, while Ascent Industries does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Ascent Industries and Ashland in the same industry?
No. Ascent Industries is in the Industrials sector, while Ashland is in Consumer Discretionary.