Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Shares Acquired by California State Teachers Retirement System

California State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 3.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 68,651 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 2,601 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.09% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $7,936,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 63.2% during 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 period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth $86,185,000. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake 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 worth $291,723,000 after purchasing an additional 650,052 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $46,997,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

WMS traded up $2.49 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $113.23. 266,182 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 604,221. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $110.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $116.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.26. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1-year low of $93.92 and a 1-year high of $179.57. The company has a current ratio of 3.21, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last posted its 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 company had revenue of $615.76 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $653.22 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.23 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.64%. This is an increase from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is 12.50%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WMS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $146.00 to $141.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen lowered Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 16th. Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $139.88.

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.