B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG Boosts Stock Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. $WMS

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 434.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 21,511 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 17,485 shares during the quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG's holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $3,115,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WMS. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,551,901 shares of the construction company's stock worth $353,949,000 after buying an additional 75,777 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,416,942 shares of the construction company's stock worth $335,230,000 after buying an additional 238,179 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 6.5% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,472,176 shares of the construction company's stock worth $204,191,000 after buying an additional 90,106 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 234.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,188,906 shares of the construction company's stock worth $164,901,000 after buying an additional 832,929 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,138,378 shares of the construction company's stock worth $157,889,000 after buying an additional 16,118 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of WMS opened at $151.78 on Friday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1-year low of $104.69 and a 1-year high of $179.32. The stock has a market cap of $11.82 billion, a PE ratio of 25.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 4.12 and a quick ratio of 3.08. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $150.12 and a 200 day moving average price of $149.86.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The construction company reported $1.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.16. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.75% and a return on equity of 27.72%. The firm had revenue of $693.35 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $686.37 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.09 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems's quarterly revenue was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.19 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were issued a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 11.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group set a $215.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Oppenheimer reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $195.00 target price (down from $200.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, April 17th. Robert W. Baird set a $205.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $176.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $190.29.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc NYSE: WMS is a leading manufacturer and supplier of water management solutions in North America. Headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, the company specializes in the design, production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipe and related products. Its core business addresses stormwater management, on-site septic systems and erosion control for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects.

The company's product portfolio includes corrugated plastic pipe, tubing, fittings, geocells, geogrids and stormwater structures such as inlets, manholes and detention/retention systems.

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