Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Short Interest Update

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 2,620,000 shares, an increase of 19.6% from the February 13th total of 2,190,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 662,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.0 days. Currently, 3.7% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.9% during the fourth quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 68,651 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $7,936,000 after buying an additional 2,601 shares in the last quarter. Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter valued at $3,641,000. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd boosted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 122.9% during the fourth quarter. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd now owns 15,055 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,740,000 after purchasing an additional 8,300 shares during the last quarter. Novem Group acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter valued at $689,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 63.2% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,064,527 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $238,659,000 after purchasing an additional 799,569 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Barclays reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Two investment 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 stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WMS traded down $0.53 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $111.37. The company had a trading volume of 26,728 shares, compared to its average volume of 535,520. 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 market cap of $8.64 billion, a PE ratio of 18.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $118.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.93. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 1-year low of $101.90 and a 1-year high of $184.27.

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

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.57%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is 10.70%.

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.