Vest Financial LLC Has $2.57 Million Stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Vest Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 12.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,632 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 2,664 shares during the quarter. Vest Financial LLC's holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $2,568,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in WMS. CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,390 shares of the construction company's stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,812 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $231,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.3% in the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 884 shares of the construction company's stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the period. Isthmus Partners LLC increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. Isthmus Partners LLC now owns 2,725 shares of the construction company's stock worth $315,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nicolet Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,024 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $454,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $146.00 to $141.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started 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. KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Loop Capital decreased their target price 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 lowered their price target on shares of 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 analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $139.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Shares of WMS stock traded up $1.92 on Monday, reaching $116.79. The stock had a trading volume of 567,914 shares, compared to its average volume of 608,009. 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 capitalization of $9.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.25. The firm's 50-day moving average is $110.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $116.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

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 net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. The business had revenue of $615.76 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $653.22 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.23 EPS. Advanced Drainage Systems's quarterly revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid 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 0.62%. This is a positive change from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.50%.

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.