Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. $WMS Holdings Raised by Russell Investments Group Ltd.

Key Points

• Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 25.3% in Q1, acquiring 35,967 additional shares, bringing its total holdings to approximately 177,888 shares valued at $19.32 million.
• Advanced Drainage Systems reported earnings per share of $1.95 for the last quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate by $0.17, while revenue rose by 1.8% year-over-year to $829.88 million.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, representing a yield of 0.5%, with a current payout ratio of 13.00%.

Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 25.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 177,888 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 35,967 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned about 0.23% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $19,320,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 63,540 shares of the construction company's stock worth $7,345,000 after buying an additional 308 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,025,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 42.8% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 3,030 shares of the construction company's stock worth $350,000 after buying an additional 908 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 47.1% during the fourth quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 7,668 shares of the construction company's stock worth $886,000 after buying an additional 2,455 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 32.2% during the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 60,383 shares of the construction company's stock worth $6,980,000 after buying an additional 14,715 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on WMS. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $167.00 target price (up from $146.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, August 8th. Barclays raised their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $140.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $152.56.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

WMS traded up $7.00 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $147.44. The company's stock had a trading volume of 263,096 shares, compared to its average volume of 714,152. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $93.92 and a fifty-two week high of $166.03. The company has a current ratio of 3.22, a quick ratio of 2.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.46 billion, a PE ratio of 26.61, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $120.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $115.43.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The construction company reported $1.95 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.78 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $829.88 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $800.54 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 29.57% and a net margin of 14.82%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.06 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems has set its FY 2026 guidance at EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is 13.00%.

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.