Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) Holdings Lifted by Van ECK Associates Corp

Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) by 65.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 63,309 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 25,158 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp owned about 0.08% of Advanced Drainage Systems worth $7,319,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.6% during the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,271 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $357,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 555 shares of the construction company's stock worth $87,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 781 shares of the construction company's stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,005 shares of the construction company's stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,411 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $379,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

WMS stock traded down $3.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $114.50. 541,351 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 647,601. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.52. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 52 week low of $110.75 and a 52 week high of $184.27. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $120.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $137.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.21 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 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%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.56%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Advanced Drainage Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of 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 research report on Monday, November 11th. UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $155.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research 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 on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $164.25.

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.