Handelsbanken Fonder AB Boosts Stock Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 36.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,958 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 5,830 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB's holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $2,538,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp increased 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 purchasing an additional 206,105 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.4% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 96,764 shares of the construction company's stock worth $11,186,000 after buying an additional 32,418 shares during the last quarter. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,694,000. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP purchased a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $8,540,000. Finally, Swedbank AB raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,384,276 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $217,553,000 after acquiring an additional 75,455 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company's stock.

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Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMS traded down $0.29 on Friday, reaching $111.30. 567,793 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 623,562. The company has a 50-day moving average of $119.59 and a 200-day moving average of $136.27. 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 firm has a market cap of $8.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1-year low of $110.06 and a 1-year high of $184.27.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share 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 forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share 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. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.58%. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 10.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on WMS shares. KeyCorp dropped their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 22nd. Loop Capital dropped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently 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.