Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Shares Sold by Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S.

Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. decreased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 98.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,480 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 177,520 shares during the period. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S.'s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $389,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,271 shares of the construction company's stock worth $357,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% in the third 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. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 10.3% in the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,020 shares of the construction company's stock worth $164,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. West Oak Capital LLC lifted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 133.3% during the second quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 175 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.8% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,411 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $379,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

NYSE:WMS traded down $2.72 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $131.65. 393,802 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 507,206. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $10.21 billion, a PE ratio of 20.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.53. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $117.97 and a twelve month high of $184.27. The stock's 50-day moving average is $148.67 and its 200-day moving average is $157.21.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $782.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $819.41 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.71 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems's payout ratio is 10.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Barclays decreased their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. KeyCorp dropped their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Loop Capital decreased their target price 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. Finally, Stephens restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $135.00 price target (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $170.29.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company 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.