Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Raised to Buy at UBS Group

UBS Group upgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat reports. They currently have $155.00 target price on the construction company’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on WMS. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Barclays cut their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Loop Capital lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. KeyCorp cut their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price target (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $168.38.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 1.0 %

Advanced Drainage Systems stock opened at $115.00 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.51. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $113.10 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $128.82 and a 200 day moving average of $146.41. 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 (NYSE:WMS) last released its earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.23). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. The business had revenue of $782.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $819.41 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.71 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.56%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is presently 10.19%.

Institutional Trading of Advanced Drainage Systems

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.6% during the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,271 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $357,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 555 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.8% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,411 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $379,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 20.5% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 693 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $109,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 8.8% during the third quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,638 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $257,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

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.