MQS Management LLC Purchases New Holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

MQS Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 2,710 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $426,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WMS. Swedbank AB bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the first quarter valued at about $220,853,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,265,169 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,251,353,000 after buying an additional 395,099 shares during the period. Boston Partners raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 16.9% during the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,519,118 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $261,609,000 after buying an additional 219,629 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 136.2% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 312,393 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $50,105,000 after buying an additional 180,154 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,870,000. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 1.6 %

WMS stock opened at $133.05 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.53. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $116.98 and a fifty-two week high of $184.27. The business has a 50-day moving average of $150.64 and a 200-day moving average of $159.16.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.23). The business had revenue of $782.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $819.41 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.71 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems’s revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be given a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WMS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Loop Capital decreased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $135.00 price target (down from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $170.29.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company 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.