Analysts Set Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Price Target at $157.11

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the ten research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $160.4444.

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $183.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays increased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $176.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $158.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th.

Insider Activity at Advanced Drainage Systems

In other Advanced Drainage Systems news, insider D. Scott Barbour sold 80,030 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.95, for a total transaction of $11,920,468.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 42,867 shares in the company, valued at $6,385,039.65. The trade was a 65.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Thomas J. Sr. Waun sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $150,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 14,970 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,245,500. This represents a 6.26% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 97,772 shares of company stock valued at $14,605,539. Company insiders own 1.63% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Advanced Drainage Systems

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.8% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 3,114,224 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $338,360,000 after buying an additional 1,049,697 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 234.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,188,906 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $164,901,000 after acquiring an additional 832,929 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the 2nd quarter valued at about $90,989,000. Interval Partners LP grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 98.0% during the 3rd quarter. Interval Partners LP now owns 968,534 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $134,336,000 after acquiring an additional 479,413 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $45,591,000. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 4.8%

Shares of NYSE WMS opened at $158.82 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.60, a current ratio of 3.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The company has a market cap of $12.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.33. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 52 week low of $93.92 and a 52 week high of $159.84. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $147.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $138.19.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The construction company reported $1.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.70 by $0.27. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.35% and a return on equity of 28.85%. The firm had revenue of $850.38 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $802.49 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.70 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is 12.29%.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

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.