Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $170.29.

WMS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of 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. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective (down from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Loop Capital cut their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMS opened at $129.88 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $10.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.68, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.48. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12 month low of $122.61 and a 12 month high of $184.27. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $144.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $154.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.15.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.23). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. The firm had revenue of $782.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $819.41 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.71 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.19%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. West Oak Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 133.3% in the 2nd quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 175 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 1,472.7% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 173 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the second quarter valued at about $45,000. Huntington National Bank grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 65.2% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 451 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.