Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Hits New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $116.59 and last traded at $116.71, with a volume of 601876 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $121.80.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WMS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Loop Capital lowered their price objective 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. Barclays lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $174.00 to $161.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $170.29.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 0.5 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $8.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $139.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $151.74. 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 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). The firm had revenue of $782.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $819.41 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 40.31% and a net margin of 16.89%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.71 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is 10.19%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,271 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $357,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its stake 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 worth $87,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 10.3% during the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,020 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $164,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.8% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,411 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $379,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.