Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Cut to “Sell” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Tuesday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $134.00 target price for the company. Finally, Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, February 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $160.89.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of WMS stock opened at $109.01 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $8.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.61. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $101.90 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $116.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $129.64.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. Research analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.59%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.70%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WMS. FMR LLC increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 54,341 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $8,540,000 after purchasing an additional 18,313 shares in the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.1% during the third quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 5,213 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $819,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at $259,000. Holocene Advisors LP bought a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at $3,342,000. Finally, Millburn Ridgefield Corp raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% during the 3rd quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 424 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by 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.