Everence Capital Management Inc. Invests $230,000 in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,990 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $230,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Anchor Investment Management LLC increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 31.8% in the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 2,011 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $316,000 after buying an additional 485 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,186,878 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $186,578,000 after acquiring an additional 59,158 shares in the last quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 28.3% during the 3rd quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. now owns 152,954 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $24,038,000 after acquiring an additional 33,754 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 1.5% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 38,672 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $6,078,000 after purchasing an additional 558 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.2% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 20,249 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,182,000 after purchasing an additional 819 shares during the period. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

NYSE WMS opened at $115.00 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.15. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1-year low of $113.10 and a 1-year high of $184.27. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $128.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $146.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.92 billion, a PE ratio of 18.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.51.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.93 by ($0.23). The business had revenue of $782.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $819.41 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 16.89% and a return on equity of 40.31%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on WMS shares. KeyCorp decreased their price objective 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. Barclays decreased their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Loop Capital decreased their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $168.38.

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.