ASH
Ashland Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$2.50B
5Y Perf.-18.7%
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Stock Comparison
ASH vs IFF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$21.18B
5Y Perf.-37.7%
ASH vs IFF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ASH | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $2.50B | $21.18B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.81B | $10.79B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-706M | $839M |
| Gross Margin | 28.6% | 35.1% |
| Operating Margin | -33.9% | 8.0% |
| Forward P/E | 14.5x | 18.9x |
| Total Debt | $1.57B | $6.65B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $215M | $590M |
ASH vs IFF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ASH
IFF
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Inc. (ASH) | 100 | 81.3 | -18.7% |
| International Flavo… (IFF) | 100 | 62.3 | -37.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ASH vs IFF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IFF leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Ashland Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ASH
Ashland Inc.
The Income Pick
ASH is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 7 yrs, beta 1.29, yield 3.0%
- 22.2% 10Y total return vs IFF's -7.7%
- Beta 1.29, yield 3.0%, current ratio 2.85x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
The Growth Play
IFF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth -5.2%, EPS growth -253.7%, 3Y rev CAGR -4.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.68, Low D/E 46.9%, current ratio 1.42x
- -5.2% revenue growth vs ASH's -13.7%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IFF | -5.2% revenue growth vs ASH's -13.7% |
| Value | ASH | Lower P/E (14.5x vs 18.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | IFF | 7.8% margin vs ASH's -39.0% |
| Stability / Safety | IFF | Beta 0.68 vs ASH's 1.29, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ASH | 3.0% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs IFF's 1.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ASH | +16.8% vs IFF's +6.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IFF | 3.3% ROA vs ASH's -15.5%, ROIC 3.5% vs -15.9% |
ASH vs IFF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ASH vs IFF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIFFLAGGINGASH
ASHAshland Inc.
2leads
IFFInternational Flavors…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ASHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IFF4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ASH3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IFF6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
IFF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ASH2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IFF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IFF is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.8B annually — 6.0x ASH's $1.8B. IFF is the more profitable business, keeping 7.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ASH's -39.0%. On growth, ASH holds the edge at +0.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ASHAshland Inc. | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $10.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$430M | $1.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$706M | $839M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $343M | $400M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +28.6% | +35.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -33.9% | +8.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -39.0% | +7.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.0% | +3.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.6% | -3.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -46.2% | +116.6% |
IFF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ASH leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ASHAshland Inc. | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.5B | $21.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.9B | $27.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.97x | -56.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.51x | 18.90x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 13.89x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.37x | 1.95x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.32x | 1.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 82.75x |
ASH leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IFF leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IFF delivers a 5.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $-38 for ASH. IFF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.47x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ASH's 0.83x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ASH scores 6/9 vs IFF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ASHAshland Inc. | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -37.5% | +5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -15.5% | +3.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -15.9% | +3.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -16.6% | +4.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.83x | 0.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.4B | $6.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $215M | $590M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $6.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -9.20x | 5.26x |
IFF leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — ASH and IFF each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ASH five years ago would be worth $7,012 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,506 for IFF. Over the past 12 months, ASH leads with a +16.8% total return vs IFF's +6.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IFF at -2.9% vs ASH's -12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ASHAshland Inc. | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.1% | +22.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.8% | +6.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.6% | -8.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.9% | -34.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +22.2% | -7.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.8% | -2.9% |
Evenly matched — ASH and IFF each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IFF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IFF is the less volatile stock with a 0.68 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ASH's 1.29 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IFF currently trades 98.5% from its 52-week high vs ASH's 83.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ASHAshland Inc. | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.29x | 0.68x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $65.65 | $84.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $46.30 | $59.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.2% | +98.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.5 | 47.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 690K | 1.6M |
IFF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ASH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ASH as "Buy" and IFF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.7% upside for ASH (target: $67) vs 5.8% for IFF (target: $88). For income investors, ASH offers the higher dividend yield at 3.03% vs IFF's 1.93%.
| Metric | ASHAshland Inc. | IFFInternational Fla… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.00 | $87.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +1.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 7 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.65 | $1.60 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.0% | +0.2% |
ASH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
IFF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ASH leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallInternational Flavors & Fra… (IFF)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ASH vs IFF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ASH or IFF a better buy right now?
For growth investors, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the stronger pick with -5. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 7% for Ashland Inc. (ASH). Analysts rate Ashland Inc. (ASH) a "Buy" — based on 24 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — ASH or IFF?
Over the past 5 years, Ashland Inc.
(ASH) delivered a total return of -29. 9%, compared to -34. 9% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASH returned +22. 2% versus IFF's -7. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — ASH or IFF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus Ashland Inc. 's 1. 29β — meaning ASH is approximately 90% more volatile than IFF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 83% for Ashland Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — ASH or IFF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is pulling ahead at -5. 2% versus -13. 7% for Ashland Inc. (ASH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. grew EPS -253. 7% year-over-year, compared to -643. 5% for Ashland Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IFF leads at -4. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — ASH or IFF?
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the more profitable company, earning -3. 4% net margin versus -46. 3% for Ashland Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IFF leads at 9. 2% versus -42. 5% for ASH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IFF leads at 30. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is ASH or IFF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ashland Inc.
(ASH) trades at 14. 5x forward P/E versus 18. 9x for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ASH: 22. 7% to $67. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ASH or IFF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Ashland Inc. (ASH) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 1. 9% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF).
08Is ASH or IFF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 68), 1. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IFF: -7. 7%, ASH: +22. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between ASH and IFF?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: ASH is a small-cap income-oriented stock; IFF is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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