Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) have been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $187.00.

Several research firms have recently commented on WMS. KeyCorp decreased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $198.00 to $185.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 22nd. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $190.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $168.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, May 22nd. Stephens upgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $190.00 to $175.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $215.00 to $205.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 22nd.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Down 0.2%

NYSE WMS opened at $129.93 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $9.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.29. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 52 week low of $109.63 and a 52 week high of $179.32. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $141.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $149.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 21st. The construction company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $676.76 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $651.92 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 26.63% and a net margin of 13.98%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.03 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 1st will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This is a boost from Advanced Drainage Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 1st. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is 14.71%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,170 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $314,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC now owns 16,007 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,318,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. MML Investors Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 1,961 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $284,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 24.4% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 377 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 78.1% in the first quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 244 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc (NYSE: WMS) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of water management solutions in North America. Headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, the company specializes in the design, production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipe and related products. Its core business addresses stormwater management, on-site septic systems and erosion control for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects.

The company’s product portfolio includes corrugated plastic pipe, tubing, fittings, geocells, geogrids and stormwater structures such as inlets, manholes and detention/retention systems.