Vontobel Holding Ltd. Grows Stock Holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 27.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 27,388 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 5,909 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $3,166,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,541,688 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $399,452,000 after buying an additional 206,105 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,384,276 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $217,553,000 after buying an additional 75,455 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,186,878 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $186,578,000 after buying an additional 59,158 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 21.2% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 738,749 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $85,399,000 after buying an additional 129,252 shares in the last quarter. Finally, abrdn plc lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 28.5% during the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 579,485 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $91,683,000 after buying an additional 128,539 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Advanced Drainage Systems stock opened at $126.84 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $9.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.52. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $110.75 and a twelve month high of $184.27. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $120.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $138.30. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 3.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. On average, equities research analysts forecast 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 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 is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.50%. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is 10.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on WMS shares. Loop Capital decreased their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of 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. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $135.00 price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, February 7th. 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 research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Barclays decreased 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. One 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Advanced Drainage Systems currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $164.25.

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.