Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS) Competitors

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) are both large-cap construction companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their community ranking, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, media sentiment, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

Does the media prefer WMS or LVS?

In the previous week, Advanced Drainage Systems and Advanced Drainage Systems both had 7 articles in the media. Advanced Drainage Systems' average media sentiment score of 1.60 beat Las Vegas Sands' score of 0.85 indicating that Advanced Drainage Systems is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Advanced Drainage Systems	5 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	1 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Very Positive
Las Vegas Sands	4 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	2 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Which has more risk and volatility, WMS or LVS?

Advanced Drainage Systems has a beta of 1.53, indicating that its stock price is 53% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Las Vegas Sands has a beta of 1.12, indicating that its stock price is 12% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Is WMS or LVS more profitable?

Advanced Drainage Systems has a net margin of 17.09% compared to Las Vegas Sands' net margin of 14.08%. Las Vegas Sands' return on equity of 44.41% beat Advanced Drainage Systems' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Advanced Drainage Systems	17.09%	43.60%	15.41%
Las Vegas Sands	14.08%	44.41%	8.48%

Which has better valuation & earnings, WMS or LVS?

Las Vegas Sands has higher revenue and earnings than Advanced Drainage Systems. Advanced Drainage Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Las Vegas Sands, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Advanced Drainage Systems	$2.91B	4.12	$509.92M	$6.44	24.06
Las Vegas Sands	$11.43B	3.32	$1.22B	$2.07	24.61

Do insiders and institutionals have more ownership in WMS or LVS?

89.8% of Advanced Drainage Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 39.2% of Las Vegas Sands shares are held by institutional investors. 2.1% of Advanced Drainage Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Las Vegas Sands shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Is WMS or LVS a better dividend stock?

Advanced Drainage Systems pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. Las Vegas Sands pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Advanced Drainage Systems pays out 9.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Las Vegas Sands pays out 38.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Do analysts prefer WMS or LVS?

Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus target price of $190.14, suggesting a potential upside of 22.72%. Las Vegas Sands has a consensus target price of $56.25, suggesting a potential upside of 10.40%. Given Advanced Drainage Systems' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Advanced Drainage Systems is more favorable than Las Vegas Sands.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Advanced Drainage Systems	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	7 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00
Las Vegas Sands	0 Sell rating(s)	3 Hold rating(s)	10 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.77

Does the MarketBeat Community favor WMS or LVS?

Las Vegas Sands received 937 more outperform votes than Advanced Drainage Systems when rated by MarketBeat users. Likewise, 71.52% of users gave Las Vegas Sands an outperform vote while only 53.48% of users gave Advanced Drainage Systems an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
Advanced Drainage Systems	Outperform Votes 346 53.48%	Underperform Votes 301 46.52%
Las Vegas Sands	Outperform Votes 1283 71.52%	Underperform Votes 511 28.48%

Summary

Advanced Drainage Systems beats Las Vegas Sands on 12 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.