Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Receives “Equal Weight” Rating from Stephens

Stephens reissued their equal weight rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) in a report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $135.00 price target on the construction company’s stock.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on WMS. UBS Group raised shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays dropped their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $172.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Oppenheimer cut their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Loop Capital cut their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of WMS stock opened at $120.41 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $121.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $140.35. Advanced Drainage Systems has a one year low of $110.75 and a one year high of $184.27. The firm has a market cap of $9.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 3.21 and a quick ratio of 2.15.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. On average, analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.53%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is 10.70%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WMS. Huntington National Bank grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% during the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the period. Millburn Ridgefield Corp grew its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% during the 3rd quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 424 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 555 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.7% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 781 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Finally, Spire Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter worth $94,000. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.