Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the ten analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $157.1111.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on WMS shares. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $158.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Barclays boosted their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $176.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday. KeyCorp increased their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th.

Insider Activity at Advanced Drainage Systems

In related news, insider D. Scott Barbour sold 80,030 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.95, for a total value of $11,920,468.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 42,867 shares in the company, valued at $6,385,039.65. This trade represents a 65.12% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 4,901 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.21, for a total value of $731,278.21. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 2,467 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $368,101.07. This represents a 66.52% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 97,772 shares of company stock worth $14,605,539. Corporate insiders own 1.63% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 352.0% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 226 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the third quarter worth $33,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 1,242.1% during the third quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 255 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the third quarter valued at $36,000. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

WMS stock opened at $144.87 on Wednesday. Advanced Drainage Systems has a one year low of $93.92 and a one year high of $155.39. The firm has a market cap of $11.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.72, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 2.60 and a current ratio of 3.48. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $143.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $132.61.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The construction company reported $1.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.27. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.35% and a return on equity of 28.85%. The firm had revenue of $850.38 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $802.49 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.70 EPS. Advanced Drainage Systems’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.29%.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products in North America and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments. It offers single, double, and triple wall corrugated polypropylene and polyethylene pipes; plastic leachfield chambers and systems; EZflow synthetic aggregate bundles; wastewater purification through mechanical aeration wastewater for residential and commercial systems; septic tanks and accessories; combined treatment and dispersal systems, including advanced enviro-septic and advanced treatment leachfield systems; and allied products, including storm retention/detention and septic chambers, polyvinyl chloride drainage structures, fittings, and water quality filters and separators.