Man Group plc Buys 2,700 Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Man Group plc boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 3.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 71,860 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the period. Man Group plc owned 0.09% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $8,307,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $86,185,000. Impax Asset Management Group plc grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 34.6% during the 4th quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,530,000 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $291,723,000 after acquiring an additional 650,052 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% during 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 buying an additional 544,109 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter valued at $46,997,000. Finally, Amundi boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 72.2% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 854,764 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $98,678,000 after purchasing an additional 358,271 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on WMS shares. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $146.00 to $141.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. Stephens reiterated an "equal weight" rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $155.00 to $146.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company 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 set a "buy" rating and a $134.00 target price for the company. Finally, Loop Capital decreased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $143.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $139.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Advanced Drainage Systems stock traded down $0.76 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $110.25. 493,986 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 601,805. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $93.92 and a 12-month high of $179.57. The stock has a market cap of $8.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 3.21. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $110.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $117.63.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 15th. The construction company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.06). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 35.79% and a net margin of 15.90%. The firm had revenue of $615.76 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $653.22 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.65%. This is a boost from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.50%.

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.