Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Given Average Recommendation of “Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Buy” by the seven ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $190.14.

WMS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $192.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $202.00 to $194.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $200.00 to $187.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Loop Capital dropped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $188.00 to $180.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Advanced Drainage Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WMS. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC purchased a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the third quarter worth approximately $1,536,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 17.0% during the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 14,831 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,331,000 after acquiring an additional 2,156 shares in the last quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD bought a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $481,000. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at $414,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of WMS stock opened at $150.94 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.44, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.53. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $151.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $161.61. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 1 year low of $102.32 and a 1 year high of $184.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 2.89 and a quick ratio of 1.90.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The construction company reported $2.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $815.34 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $828.00 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 43.60% and a net margin of 17.09%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.94%.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products, and drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplaces in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments.