Ascent Industries authorized a new 2.0 million‑share stock repurchase program that will run for two years through December 16 2027. The program replaces the February 18 2025 authorization and gives the board flexibility to buy back shares when market conditions and regulatory compliance allow.
The new authorization covers up to 2.0 million shares, a 75 % increase over the remaining shares of the prior program. As of the close on December 17 2025, the company had 9.38 million shares outstanding and had already repurchased roughly 7.2 % of those shares based on the December 31 2024 share count, reflecting disciplined execution of its capital allocation strategy.
Repurchases will be financed from available working capital and the repurchased shares will be returned to the pool of authorized but unissued shares or held in treasury, ensuring no additional debt is taken on and preserving liquidity for ongoing operations.
Management cited the company’s improving profitability as the basis for the buyback. In the most recent quarter, gross profit margin rose to 29.7 % from 14.4 % a year earlier, while net sales fell 5.7 % YoY. The margin expansion was driven by higher pricing power in core specialty‑chemical segments and disciplined cost control, offsetting the sales decline. The company also completed a lease‑assignment that is expected to eliminate $2.1 million in annual expenses, further strengthening its balance sheet.
The prior program, approved in February 2025, had already seen nearly 75 % of its authorized shares repurchased, underscoring a consistent strategy of returning capital to shareholders. The new program builds on that momentum and provides additional flexibility to capitalize on undervaluation opportunities as they arise.
While the announcement did not trigger a sharp market reaction, the program signals management’s confidence that the current valuation does not fully reflect the company’s earnings power and that share repurchases remain a compelling use of capital for shareholders.
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