GAMMA Investing LLC Purchases 87,920 Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 28,921.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 88,224 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 87,920 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC owned about 0.11% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $9,586,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in WMS. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth approximately $86,185,000. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 34.6% in the fourth quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,530,000 shares of the construction company's stock worth $291,723,000 after buying an additional 650,052 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% in 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 acquiring an additional 544,109 shares in the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at $46,997,000. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 0.0%

Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $114.96. 660,577 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 608,170. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $110.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $116.28. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $93.92 and a twelve month high of $179.57. The stock has a market cap of $8.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.22, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 3.21.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 15th. The construction company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.06). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. The company had revenue of $615.76 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $653.22 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.23 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems's quarterly revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.63%. This is a positive change from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is currently 12.50%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on WMS. Loop Capital cut their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $143.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Barclays upped their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $155.00 to $146.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "buy" rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.