GSA Capital Partners LLP Invests $1.22 Million in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 7,101 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,223,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WMS. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,878,726 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $783,005,000 after buying an additional 65,038 shares during the period. Boston Partners increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 15.9% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,299,489 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $182,737,000 after purchasing an additional 178,720 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV raised its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 78.5% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 659,483 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $92,750,000 after purchasing an additional 289,925 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 633,392 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $89,086,000 after buying an additional 15,690 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth approximately $88,640,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

NYSE WMS traded up $1.26 on Wednesday, hitting $154.25. The stock had a trading volume of 142,167 shares, compared to its average volume of 481,854. The company’s 50-day moving average is $167.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $158.20. The stock has a market cap of $11.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 2.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a one year low of $102.32 and a one year high of $184.27.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 16th. The construction company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.28. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 17.74% and a return on equity of 46.93%. The firm had revenue of $653.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $611.99 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.06 EPS. Advanced Drainage Systems’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 7.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 31st were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 31st. This is a boost from Advanced Drainage Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 9.94%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stephens upped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $182.00 to $193.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, May 17th. Barclays lifted their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $189.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 17th. StockNews.com raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, May 17th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $185.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, May 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $181.88.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Robert M. Klein sold 3,059 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.95, for a total transaction of $538,231.05. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 102,070 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $17,959,216.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Robert M. Klein sold 3,059 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.95, for a total transaction of $538,231.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 102,070 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,959,216.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 3,800 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.68, for a total transaction of $648,584.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,530 shares in the company, valued at approximately $773,180.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 176,004 shares of company stock worth $30,547,285 over the last 90 days. 2.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

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.