Scientech Research LLC Takes $639,000 Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Scientech Research LLC acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,987 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $639,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Swedbank AB bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 1st quarter worth approximately $220,853,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,265,169 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,251,353,000 after purchasing an additional 395,099 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 107.4% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 567,504 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $79,814,000 after buying an additional 293,924 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 78.5% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 659,483 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $92,750,000 after buying an additional 289,925 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 16.9% during the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,519,118 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $261,609,000 after buying an additional 219,629 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on WMS shares. Barclays dropped their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $202.00 to $194.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. StockNews.com downgraded Advanced Drainage Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and set a $192.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $200.00 to $187.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $188.00 to $180.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $190.14.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 2.2 %

WMS stock opened at $160.29 on Friday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a one year low of $102.32 and a one year high of $184.27. The stock has a market cap of $12.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $154.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $162.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 2.89 and a quick ratio of 1.90.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The construction company reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.08. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 17.09% and a return on equity of 43.60%. The business had revenue of $815.34 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $828.00 million. Equities analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.95 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.40%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.94%.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products, and drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplaces in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments.