Ashland (ASH) vs Eastman Chemical (EMN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ashland (ASH) has outperformed Eastman Chemical (EMN) over the past year, gaining 45.5% versus a gain of 2.3%. Over five years, ASH leads with a -26.2% price change compared with -40.6% for EMN. Eastman Chemical is the larger company by market cap ($7.29 billion vs $3.24 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Eastman Chemical trades at a lower forward P/E (9.4x vs 16.4x for Ashland). Eastman Chemical offers the higher dividend yield (5.25% vs 2.36%). Eastman Chemical converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.4% versus -46.3%.
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 | ASH | EMN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $70.69 | $63.76 |
| Market cap | $3.24B | $7.29B |
| 1-day change | +0.03% | +0.81% |
| YTD return | +20.49% | -0.11% |
| 1-year return | +45.45% | +2.28% |
| 5-year return | -26.16% | -40.62% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.31 | 16.65 |
| Forward P/E | 16.44 | 9.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.56 | $3.83 |
| Dividend yield | 2.36% | 5.25% |
| Annual dividend | $1.67 | $3.35 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.82B | $8.75B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -13.68% | -6.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-845.00M | $474.00M |
| Gross margin | 30.10% | 21.07% |
| Operating margin | -42.49% | — |
| Net margin | -46.33% | 5.42% |
| 52-week high | $78.25 | $83.47 |
| 52-week low | $47.12 | $56.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.66% | -23.61% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.04% | +25.36% |
| Average volume | 682.22K | 1.14M |
| Shares outstanding | 45.79M | 114.33M |
| Employees | 2,900 | 13,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Specialty 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
- Eastman Chemical is about 2.3 times larger than Ashland by market value ($7.29B vs $3.24B).
- ASH has outperformed EMN by 43.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Ashland trades at a higher earnings multiple (45.3x vs 16.6x trailing P/E).
- Eastman Chemical offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.25% vs 2.36%).
- Eastman Chemical is more profitable, keeping 5.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -46.3 cents for Ashland.
- Eastman Chemical grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (-6.71% vs -13.68%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ashland in Consumer Discretionary and Eastman Chemical in Basic Materials.
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
About Eastman Chemical
EMN stock →Eastman Chemical Company operates as a specialty materials company in the United States, China, and internationally. The company's Additives & Functional Products segment offers amine derivative-based building blocks, intermediates for surfactants, metam-based soil fumigants, and organic acid-based solutions; specialty coalescent and solvents, paint additives, and specialty polymers; and heat transfer and aviation fluids.
Basic Materials · Specialty Chemicals · 13,000 employees
ASH vs EMN FAQ
Which is bigger, Ashland or Eastman Chemical?
Eastman Chemical (EMN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $7.29B compared with $3.24B for Ashland (ASH).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASH or EMN?
ASH returned +45.45% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.28% for EMN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ASH or EMN?
EMN has the lower trailing P/E at 16.6, versus 45.3 for ASH. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ashland or Eastman Chemical?
Eastman Chemical has the higher yield at 5.25%, compared with 2.36% for Ashland.
Are Ashland and Eastman Chemical in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Specialty Chemicals industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.