Dana Investment Advisors Inc. Acquires 1,598 Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Dana Investment Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 14.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,681 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 1,598 shares during the period. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $1,466,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 21,373 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,471,000 after buying an additional 1,286 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth $1,981,000. M&T Bank Corp increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 52.6% during the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 12,000 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,387,000 after purchasing an additional 4,137 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 593,562 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $68,616,000 after purchasing an additional 31,510 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 59.1% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,203 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 818 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of WMS opened at $114.96 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.92 billion, a PE ratio of 19.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.61. 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, Inc. has a 1-year low of $101.90 and a 1-year high of $184.27. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $119.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $134.66.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share 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%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird reduced 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. KeyCorp reduced their price target on 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 reduced their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $160.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, UBS Group raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $155.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average 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.