Oppenheimer Increases Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Price Target to $180.00

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) had its price target boosted by Oppenheimer from $172.00 to $180.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the construction company's stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 8th. KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Stephens lifted their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $138.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $159.13.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Shares of WMS traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $156.73. 384,512 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 469,625. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $164.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $138.60. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $80.41 and a 12-month high of $176.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.50.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The construction company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.44. The firm had revenue of $662.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $632.69 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 49.79% and a net margin of 17.65%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.99 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were issued a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.36%. Advanced Drainage Systems's payout ratio is 8.90%.

Insider Transactions at Advanced Drainage Systems

In related news, EVP Michael G. Huebert sold 10,000 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.52, for a total value of $1,635,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,199,344. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Michael G. Huebert sold 10,000 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.52, for a total value of $1,635,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13,450 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,199,344. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ross M. Jones sold 762,895 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.00, for a total transaction of $124,351,885.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 70,749 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,532,087. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 3.79% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WMS. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Finally, Avalon Trust Co acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the 4th quarter worth $38,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products, and drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplaces in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments.