Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Stock Rating Upgraded by UBS Group

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) was upgraded by stock analysts at UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $155.00 target price on the construction company’s stock. UBS Group’s target price indicates a potential upside of 36.28% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on WMS. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock 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 report on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird decreased 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 report on Monday, November 11th. Loop Capital dropped their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $168.38.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

NYSE WMS opened at $113.74 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $129.57 and its 200-day moving average is $146.63. The firm has a market cap of $8.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.51. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $113.10 and a 12-month high of $184.27. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.23). The company had revenue of $782.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $819.41 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.71 EPS. The company’s revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Advanced Drainage Systems

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. National Bank of Canada FI bought a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% in 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 during the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp boosted 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 valued at $77,000 after buying an additional 424 shares during the period. CWM LLC grew its stake 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 buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 20.5% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 693 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $109,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Company 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.