StockNews.com Downgrades Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) to Sell

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird cut their price target 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. UBS Group upgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp cut their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $164.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:WMS opened at $126.84 on Friday. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 1-year low of $110.75 and a 1-year high of $184.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 3.21 and a quick ratio of 2.15. The stock has a market cap of $9.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $120.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $138.57.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 35.79% and a net margin of 15.90%. Sell-side analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 6.12 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at $613,000. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 665,461 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $76,927,000 after acquiring an additional 30,933 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 48,371 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $5,592,000 after acquiring an additional 2,591 shares in the last quarter. Alpine Peaks Capital LP raised its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 7.3% during the fourth quarter. Alpine Peaks Capital LP now owns 46,320 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $5,355,000 after acquiring an additional 3,170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lifted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 278.8% in the fourth quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 125,000 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $14,450,000 after purchasing an additional 92,000 shares in the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.