South Dakota Investment Council Makes New $971,000 Investment in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

South Dakota Investment Council acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 8,400 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $971,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in WMS. Huntington National Bank increased its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 123.1% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 386 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 642.4% in the 3rd quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 490 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 18.1% in 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 Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 781 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $94,000. Institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

NYSE:WMS opened at $114.50 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $8.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $120.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $137.01. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a one year low of $110.75 and a one 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 1.98.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. Equities analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.56%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is currently 10.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on 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. StockNews.com raised shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $164.25.

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.