Van ECK Associates Corp Acquires 25,158 Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Van ECK Associates Corp raised its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 65.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 63,309 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 25,158 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $7,319,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Huntington National Bank grew its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% during the third quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 555 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $87,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position 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 buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth approximately $94,000. Institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Loop Capital reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com downgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, 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 report on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of WMS stock opened at $126.84 on Tuesday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $110.75 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The company has a current ratio of 3.21, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $120.66 and its 200 day moving average is $138.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last released its quarterly 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%. Research analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The firm 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 $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.50%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is currently 10.70%.

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.