Brokerages Set Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) PT at $153.78

Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) have received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the nine analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $153.78.

WMS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $149.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a “buy” rating and a $134.00 target price for the company.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Shares of WMS opened at $113.82 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $108.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $122.22. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $93.92 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The firm has a market cap of $8.83 billion, a PE ratio of 19.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a current ratio of 3.21, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is 10.70%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Anchor Investment Management LLC raised its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 31.8% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 2,011 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $316,000 after acquiring an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter valued at $230,000. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 73,203 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $8,554,000 after purchasing an additional 4,221 shares in the last quarter. Northcape Capital Pty Ltd raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 32.1% in the 4th quarter. Northcape Capital Pty Ltd now owns 16,509 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,908,000 after purchasing an additional 4,016 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.4% in the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 96,764 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $11,186,000 after purchasing an additional 32,418 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

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.