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

Peregrine Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 23.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 118,666 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 22,380 shares during the quarter. Peregrine Capital Management LLC owned 0.15% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $12,893,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WMS. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,332,268 shares of the construction company's stock worth $847,610,000 after acquiring an additional 52,799 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in 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 worth $238,659,000 after purchasing an additional 799,569 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,732,827 shares of the construction company's stock worth $200,315,000 after purchasing an additional 544,109 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,402,447 shares of the construction company's stock worth $162,123,000 after purchasing an additional 16,415 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,192,746 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $137,924,000 after buying an additional 5,868 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 4.1%

NYSE WMS traded up $4.69 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $119.55. 1,055,925 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 625,147. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $114.26 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $114.42. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $93.92 and a 12-month high of $179.57. The firm has a market cap of $9.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.24. 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 posted its earnings results 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). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 32.33% and a net margin of 15.50%. The company 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 company earned $1.23 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.60%. This is an increase from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. Advanced Drainage Systems's payout ratio is presently 12.50%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group decreased their price target on 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. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "buy" rating and a $134.00 price target for the company. Finally, KeyCorp lowered their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus 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.