Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $187.2857.

Several analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $215.00 to $205.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $168.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday. Stephens raised Advanced Drainage Systems from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $190.00 to $175.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, KeyCorp cut their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $198.00 to $185.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 22nd.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 352.0% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 226 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 78.1% during the 1st quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 244 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth $42,000. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

NYSE:WMS opened at $135.67 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $141.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $149.38. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12 month low of $109.63 and a 12 month high of $179.32. The firm has a market cap of $10.40 billion, a PE ratio of 24.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 21st. The construction company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $676.76 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $651.92 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 26.63%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.03 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This is a boost from Advanced Drainage Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 1st. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.71%.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc (NYSE: WMS) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of water management solutions in North America. Headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, the company specializes in the design, production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipe and related products. Its core business addresses stormwater management, on-site septic systems and erosion control for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects.

The company’s product portfolio includes corrugated plastic pipe, tubing, fittings, geocells, geogrids and stormwater structures such as inlets, manholes and detention/retention systems.