KBC Group NV Raises Stock Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

KBC Group NV boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 21.2% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 738,749 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 129,252 shares during the period. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $85,399,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Huntington National Bank increased its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% during the 3rd 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 raised its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% during 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 last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 20.5% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 693 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 418.5% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 897 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $144,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Advanced Drainage Systems stock opened at $125.04 on Monday. 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 stock has a market cap of $9.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.91, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $123.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $143.29. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $110.75 and a 12-month high of $184.27.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.93 by ($0.23). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. The firm had revenue of $782.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $819.41 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.71 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.51%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.19%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMS has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays dropped their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $172.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Loop Capital dropped 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 report on Monday, November 11th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $135.00 price target (down from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $166.88.

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.