Bank of Montreal Can Lowers Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Bank of Montreal Can decreased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 80.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,752 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 59,816 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can's holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $1,705,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.4% in the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 96,764 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $11,186,000 after purchasing an additional 32,418 shares during the period. KBC Group NV increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 21.2% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 738,749 shares of the construction company's stock worth $85,399,000 after acquiring an additional 129,252 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 593,562 shares of the construction company's stock worth $68,616,000 after acquiring an additional 31,510 shares in the last quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC raised its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 64.9% in the 4th quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC now owns 5,658 shares of the construction company's stock worth $654,000 after acquiring an additional 2,227 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 163,910 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $18,948,000 after acquiring an additional 20,146 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on WMS. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "buy" rating and a $134.00 price objective on the stock. Loop Capital reduced 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. StockNews.com downgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Stephens reiterated an "equal weight" rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $149.00 to $130.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $153.78.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 4.2 %

NYSE WMS traded up $4.45 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $109.17. 88,533 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 633,017. The firm has a market cap of $8.47 billion, a PE ratio of 18.26, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 3.21 and a quick ratio of 1.98. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 52-week low of $93.92 and a 52-week high of $184.27. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $109.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of $124.03.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 35.79% and a net margin of 15.90%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 10.70%.

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.