Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Stock Rating Lowered by StockNews.com

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Monday.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $138.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $155.13.

Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:WMS opened at $169.72 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $161.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $136.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.50. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $77.39 and a 12-month high of $176.31. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The construction company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.44. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 17.65% and a return on equity of 49.79%. The business had revenue of $662.37 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $632.69 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.99 EPS. Advanced Drainage Systems’s quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Advanced Drainage Systems

In other news, EVP Michael G. Huebert sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.52, for a total transaction of $1,635,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,199,344. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Michael G. Huebert sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.52, for a total value of $1,635,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,199,344. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ross M. Jones sold 762,895 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.00, for a total transaction of $124,351,885.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 70,749 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,532,087. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 3.79% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Advanced Drainage Systems

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Avalon Trust Co acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

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.