KBC Group NV Buys 129,252 Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

KBC Group NV raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 21.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 738,749 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 129,252 shares during the period. KBC Group NV owned about 0.95% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $85,399,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 8.8% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,541,688 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $399,452,000 after acquiring an additional 206,105 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 136.2% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 312,393 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $50,105,000 after purchasing an additional 180,154 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 2nd quarter valued at $21,657,000. Fernbridge Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 108.2% in the 3rd quarter. Fernbridge Capital Management LP now owns 253,549 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $39,848,000 after purchasing an additional 131,781 shares during the last quarter. Finally, abrdn plc lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 28.5% in the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 579,485 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $91,683,000 after purchasing an additional 128,539 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMS traded down $0.04 during trading on Monday, reaching $125.04. The stock had a trading volume of 349,854 shares, compared to its average volume of 568,116. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.69 billion, a PE ratio of 19.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.15. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 52 week low of $110.75 and a 52 week high of $184.27. The business's 50-day moving average price is $123.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $143.03.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.23). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 16.89% and a return on equity of 40.31%. The business had revenue of $782.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $819.41 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.71 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 10.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on WMS shares. Stephens reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $135.00 price target (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. KeyCorp reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Two research 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 stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $166.88.

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.