Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Shares Bought by Geneva Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• Geneva Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.4%, holding a total of 221,002 shares worth approximately $24 million after acquiring an additional 7,352 shares.
• Advanced Drainage Systems has revised its dividend to $0.18 per share, representing an annualized dividend of $0.72 and a yield of 0.6%, up from the previous $0.16.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on the stock, with one brokerage downgrading it from "hold" to "sell," while the overall consensus maintains a "Moderate Buy" rating with a target price of $139.88.

Geneva Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 3.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 221,002 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 7,352 shares during the period. Geneva Capital Management LLC owned 0.28% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $24,012,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of WMS. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the first quarter worth about $26,000. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 76.2% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 266 shares of the construction company's stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the first quarter worth $66,000. Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 110.7% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 670 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth $74,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Shares of WMS stock traded up $4.22 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $117.26. The stock had a trading volume of 838,887 shares, compared to its average volume of 606,582. The firm has a market cap of $9.10 billion, a PE ratio of 20.36, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.27. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $93.92 and a fifty-two week high of $166.03. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $115.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $114.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 3.33 and a quick ratio of 2.10.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 15th. The construction company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.09 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $615.76 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $653.22 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 32.33% and a net margin of 15.50%. The company's revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.23 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This is a positive change from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.50%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WMS. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $155.00 to $146.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Loop Capital decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $143.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $139.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems 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.