Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ Takes $3.64 Million Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ purchased a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 31,493 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $3,641,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of WMS. Spire Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $94,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.3% in the fourth quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 884 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.0% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,005 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $116,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC raised its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 1,298.6% in the fourth quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $118,000 after buying an additional 948 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming raised its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 574.6% in the fourth quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,302 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $151,000 after buying an additional 1,109 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 3.5%

WMS traded up $3.76 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $110.98. 595,836 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 605,554. 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, Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.92 and a 1 year high of $179.57. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $110.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $116.62. The firm has a market cap of $8.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.26.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 15th. The construction company reported $1.03 earnings per share (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 business had revenue of $615.76 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $653.22 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.23 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems's quarterly revenue was down 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. This is an increase from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Advanced Drainage Systems's payout ratio is currently 12.50%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on WMS shares. Oppenheimer lowered their target price 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. Barclays boosted their target price 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. 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 report on Friday, May 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $134.00 target price for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $146.00 to $141.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.