Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Shares Sold by UniSuper Management Pty Ltd

UniSuper Management Pty Ltd decreased its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 11.3% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 104,108 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 13,200 shares during the quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $12,035,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 15.4% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 562,052 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $88,332,000 after acquiring an additional 75,008 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.3% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 28,432 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,468,000 after purchasing an additional 1,160 shares during the last quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance purchased a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the third quarter worth about $939,000. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 20.3% during the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 74,568 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $11,953,000 after purchasing an additional 12,559 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 54,341 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $8,540,000 after buying an additional 18,313 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE WMS opened at $111.20 on Friday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 52-week low of $101.90 and a 52-week high of $184.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $117.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.56. The firm has a market cap of $8.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.61.

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

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.58%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is currently 10.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

About Advanced Drainage Systems

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.