Blue Trust Inc. Raises Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 12.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,005 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $116,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 8.8% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,541,688 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $399,452,000 after buying an additional 206,105 shares in the last quarter. Fernbridge Capital Management LP boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 108.2% in the 3rd quarter. Fernbridge Capital Management LP now owns 253,549 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $39,848,000 after purchasing an additional 131,781 shares during the period. abrdn plc grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 28.5% during the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 579,485 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $91,683,000 after buying an additional 128,539 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% in the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,384,276 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $217,553,000 after buying an additional 75,455 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 15.4% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 562,052 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $88,332,000 after acquiring an additional 75,008 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on WMS. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock 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 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $172.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Loop Capital dropped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. 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.com, Advanced Drainage Systems has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $166.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

WMS stock opened at $117.46 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $121.63 and a 200-day moving average of $140.70. The company has a market cap of $9.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.70, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $110.75 and a 12-month high of $184.27.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted 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 return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders 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 yield of 0.54%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.19%.

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.