Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Upgraded to “Hold” at StockNews.com

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

WMS has been the subject of a number of other reports. KeyCorp cut their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Barclays cut their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Down 2.6 %

Shares of WMS stock opened at $114.50 on Friday. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12 month low of $110.75 and a 12 month high of $184.27. The firm has a market cap of $8.88 billion, a PE ratio of 19.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $120.01 and a 200-day moving average of $137.01. 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) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 35.79% and a net margin of 15.90%. On average, equities analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.1 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Advanced Drainage Systems

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of WMS. CWM LLC grew 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 acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Creative Planning grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 149.1% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 11,710 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,840,000 after purchasing an additional 7,009 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,384,276 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $217,553,000 after purchasing an additional 75,455 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 418.5% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 897 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 724 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 16.8% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 12,724 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,000,000 after purchasing an additional 1,834 shares during the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.