Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Lowered to "Sell" Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. KeyCorp lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Stephens reiterated 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. Robert W. Baird decreased 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 note on Monday, November 11th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, UBS Group raised 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 report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 0.0 %

WMS traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $126.95. 598,865 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 641,625. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 1 year low of $110.75 and a 1 year high of $184.27. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $120.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.76. The firm has a market cap of $9.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 3.21, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share 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, analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.50%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems's payout ratio is currently 10.70%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Huntington National Bank boosted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company's stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the period. Millburn Ridgefield Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% in the 3rd quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $77,000 after buying an additional 424 shares during the period. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 555 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 781 shares of the construction company's stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Finally, Spire Wealth Management bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter worth about $94,000. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.