Ashland (ASH) vs Stepan (SCL)
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 Stepan (SCL) over the past year, gaining 48.8% versus a gain of 28.6%. Over five years, ASH leads with a -26.2% price change compared with -48.7% for SCL. Ashland is the larger company by market cap ($3.24 billion vs $1.39 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Ashland trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 16.6x for Stepan). Stepan offers the higher dividend yield (2.56% vs 2.36%).
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 | SCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $70.67 | $61.32 |
| Market cap | $3.24B | $1.39B |
| 1-day change | -0.42% | -1.72% |
| YTD return | +20.45% | +29.48% |
| 1-year return | +48.81% | +28.55% |
| 5-year return | -26.19% | -48.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.59 | — |
| Forward P/E | 16.43 | 16.62 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.55 | $-0.12 |
| Dividend yield | 2.36% | 2.56% |
| Annual dividend | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| 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 | $78.25 | $68.00 |
| 52-week low | $47.12 | $41.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.69% | -9.82% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.07% | +38.62% |
| Average volume | 681.71K | 140.82K |
| Shares outstanding | 45.79M | 22.71M |
| Employees | 2,900 | 2,328 |
| 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
- Ashland is about 2.3 times larger than Stepan by market value ($3.24B vs $1.39B).
- ASH has outperformed SCL by 20.3 percentage points over the past year.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ashland in Consumer Discretionary and Stepan 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 Stepan
SCL stock →Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products in the United States, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products.
Basic Materials · Specialty Chemicals · 2,328 employees
ASH vs SCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Ashland or Stepan?
Ashland (ASH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.24B compared with $1.39B for Stepan (SCL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASH or SCL?
ASH returned +48.81% over the past 12 months, compared with +28.55% for SCL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ashland or Stepan?
Stepan has the higher yield at 2.56%, compared with 2.36% for Ashland.
Are Ashland and Stepan in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Specialty Chemicals industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.