Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Lowers Holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. lessened its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 8.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 236,723 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 22,797 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned 0.31% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $27,365,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 781 shares of the construction company's stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.0% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,005 shares of the construction company's stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,390 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,812 shares of the construction company's stock worth $231,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the period. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.3% during the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 884 shares of the construction company's stock worth $102,000 after buying an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

WMS stock traded up $0.59 during trading on Friday, reaching $111.72. The company had a trading volume of 200,015 shares, compared to its average volume of 572,982. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 3.21. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $93.92 and a twelve month high of $184.27. The company has a market cap of $8.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.48. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $109.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $123.61.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.57%. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is currently 10.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on WMS shares. UBS Group raised shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $155.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $149.00 to $130.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Loop Capital dropped their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $153.78.

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.