DnB Asset Management AS Has $1.17 Million Holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

DnB Asset Management AS trimmed its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 4.2% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 10,141 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 441 shares during the period. DnB Asset Management AS’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $1,172,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WMS. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 54,341 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $8,540,000 after purchasing an additional 18,313 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 5,213 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $819,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. bought a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $259,000. Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,342,000. Finally, Millburn Ridgefield Corp grew its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% during the 3rd quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on WMS shares. Loop Capital reduced their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” 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 research note on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com downgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Tuesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $134.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $160.89.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 0.3 %

WMS opened at $109.01 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $116.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $129.64. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1-year low of $101.90 and a 1-year high of $184.27. The stock has a market cap of $8.46 billion, a PE ratio of 18.23, a price-to-earnings-growth 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.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted 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%. As a group, research analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is 10.70%.

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.