J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG Sells 45,068 Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG lowered its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 32.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 95,821 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 45,068 shares during the period. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG owned approximately 0.12% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $11,077,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of WMS. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings 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 valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter worth approximately $94,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.3% in the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 884 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.0% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,005 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $116,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 1,298.6% during the fourth quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the construction company's stock worth $118,000 after acquiring an additional 948 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on WMS. StockNews.com lowered Advanced Drainage Systems from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $134.00 price objective for the company. Stephens reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Loop Capital cut their price target 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. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $153.78.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of WMS stock traded up $0.48 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $111.61. 555,126 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 574,352. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $93.92 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The company has a market capitalization of $8.66 billion, a PE ratio of 18.66, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.48. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $109.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.61. 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 - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.