On the stock market since 1980, it operates in the world of raw materials. It has 3,200 employees. Now — the numbers.
The company closed last year at a loss: costs ran above sales. The picture changes only if spending is reined in.
Revenue is spread across several lines; no single product carries the company.
An average decline of 4% a year over the last 4 years — the most striking risk in this picture. Red columns mark years that ended in a loss.
Before the clock runs out, either sales must climb sharply or new money must come in. This is the most critical line in the whole picture.
We compared this company with its own sector across five subjects.
A score of 50 means class average.
Clearly below the class average.
A solid grade overall — yet the debt outweighs the cash. The strength here comes from earnings power.
The price isn’t cheap next to earnings — that’s why this grade sits in the middle.
Clearly below the class average.
The stock has been running stronger than the market lately.
Growth: Sales growth trails the sector average.
Business Quality: Profit power and business quality trail similar companies in the sector.
The stock trades 43% below its peak. The market has trimmed its expectations for the company.
Over the last 12 months, company executives reported 61 buys and 48 sells. Management buying with its own money is usually read as a good sign.
It pays out $1.67 per share each year — regular cash for whoever holds the stock.
A loss of $845M against $1.8B in annual sales. And on top of that, sales fell from the year before.
At the current pace of spending, the cash lasts less than a year. After that, the company needs to find new money.
On our five-subject report card, ASH sits in the middle of the class: some subjects shine, others don’t. The grade moves as the numbers move.
The takeaway: ASH has solid sales but closed last year at a loss. The road back to profit runs through spending discipline.