Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Given “Equal Weight” Rating at Stephens

Stephens reaffirmed their equal weight rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) in a report issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a $135.00 target price on the construction company’s stock, down from their prior target price of $170.00.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Loop Capital reduced their target price 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. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $170.29.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE WMS opened at $133.05 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $10.31 billion, a PE ratio of 21.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.53. 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 has a 12-month low of $116.98 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The company has a 50-day moving average of $150.64 and a 200 day moving average of $159.16.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.23). The company had revenue of $782.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $819.41 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 16.89% and a return on equity of 40.31%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.71 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be issued a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is 10.19%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 319.4% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 151 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. West Oak Capital LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 133.3% during the second quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 175 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 1,472.7% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 173 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

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.