Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Friday morning.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $155.00 to $146.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 16th. KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Loop Capital lowered their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $143.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $134.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $139.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Down 0.7%

WMS traded down $0.81 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $111.77. 646,556 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 633,435. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.24. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 1-year low of $93.92 and a 1-year high of $179.57. The company has a quick ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 3.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $115.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $114.46.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 15th. The construction company reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.09 by ($0.06). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 32.33% and a net margin of 15.50%. The firm had revenue of $615.76 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $653.22 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.23 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems's revenue for the quarter was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This is an increase from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.64%. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is 12.50%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.8% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 3,114,224 shares of the construction company's stock worth $338,360,000 after acquiring an additional 1,049,697 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 63.2% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,064,527 shares of the construction company's stock worth $238,659,000 after acquiring an additional 799,569 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth about $86,185,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,732,827 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $200,315,000 after purchasing an additional 544,109 shares during the period. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $46,997,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.