Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Shares Bought by Vest Financial LLC

Vest Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 114.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,968 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 11,180 shares during the period. Vest Financial LLC’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $2,424,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Huntington National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% during the third 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 last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% during the third quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 424 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 555 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $87,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 20.5% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 693 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $109,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $94,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Loop Capital dropped 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. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 2.3 %

Shares of WMS opened at $120.41 on Friday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1-year low of $110.75 and a 1-year high of $184.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 3.21 and a quick ratio of 2.15. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $121.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $140.13. The stock has a market cap of $9.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share 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%. Equities analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.70%.

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.