Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Raises Stock Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. $WMS

Key Points

• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, owning approximately 1.33% of the company after acquiring an additional 224,015 shares, bringing its total to 1,031,682 shares valued at about $112.1 million.
• Brokerages have recently varied in their ratings and target prices for Advanced Drainage Systems, with Barclays raising their target from $135 to $160, and the current consensus target price sitting at $152.56 with an average rating of "Moderate Buy."
• The company reported Q2 earnings of $1.95 EPS, exceeding estimates, and plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share on September 15th, representing a 0.5% yield.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 27.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,031,682 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 224,015 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 1.33% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $112,090,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 76.2% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 266 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 1st quarter valued at $66,000. Signaturefd LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 110.7% during the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 670 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 352 shares during the period. Finally, Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter valued at $74,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

WMS stock traded up $0.95 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $146.29. The company's stock had a trading volume of 297,854 shares, compared to its average volume of 717,977. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.92 and a 1 year high of $166.03. The company has a quick ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 3.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $11.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.27. The company's fifty day moving average is $122.87 and its 200-day moving average is $116.00.

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

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid 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 presently 13.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $167.00 price target (up from $146.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, August 8th. Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Barclays upped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, Loop Capital reduced 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. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $152.56.

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.