Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. Raises Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 22.4% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 179,585 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 32,810 shares during the quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd.’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $20,760,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in WMS. Swedbank AB lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,384,276 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $217,553,000 after purchasing an additional 75,455 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.8% during the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 4,999 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $786,000 after buying an additional 566 shares during the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 3rd quarter worth $1,707,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 31.8% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 164,190 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $25,804,000 after buying an additional 39,593 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneva Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 202,128 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $31,766,000 after buying an additional 5,617 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE WMS opened at $109.65 on Thursday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $101.90 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The company has a market cap of $8.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a current ratio of 3.21, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $118.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $133.65.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. Research analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.58%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is presently 10.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on WMS. StockNews.com upgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Loop Capital dropped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $164.25.

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.