Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Upgraded at StockNews.com

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued on Saturday.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Barclays cut their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group upgraded 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. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp lowered their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two equities 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, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

NYSE:WMS opened at $114.50 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.52. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $120.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.21. 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 has a 12-month low of $110.75 and a 12-month high of $184.27.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last released its quarterly 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 research analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WMS. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 63.2% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,064,527 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $238,659,000 after acquiring an additional 799,569 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth approximately $86,185,000. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 34.6% during the 4th quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,530,000 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $291,723,000 after acquiring an additional 650,052 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,732,827 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $200,315,000 after acquiring an additional 544,109 shares during the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,997,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.