Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Shares Sold by Swiss National Bank

Swiss National Bank lessened its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 1.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 142,800 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 2,100 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned approximately 0.18% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $15,515,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 63.2% in 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 valued at $238,659,000 after purchasing an additional 799,569 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in 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 last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,997,000. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,904,414 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $314,700,000 after purchasing an additional 374,414 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter valued at about $42,160,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on WMS. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $167.00 target price (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, August 8th. KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $140.00 to $159.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Monday. They set an "outperform" rating and a $159.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $152.56.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 4.5%

WMS opened at $142.90 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $117.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $114.69. The company has a market cap of $11.11 billion, a PE ratio of 25.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.27. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.92 and a 1 year high of $166.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 2.25 and a current ratio of 3.22.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The construction company reported $1.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $829.88 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $800.54 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 29.57% and a net margin of 14.82%. The business's revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.06 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend 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.

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