Level Four Advisory Services LLC Takes Position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Level Four Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 3,243 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $456,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WMS. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Avalon Trust Co purchased a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems during the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, ORG Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Advanced Drainage Systems

In other Advanced Drainage Systems news, EVP Michael G. Huebert sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.52, for a total transaction of $1,635,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,199,344. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Advanced Drainage Systems news, EVP Michael G. Huebert sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.52, for a total transaction of $1,635,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,199,344. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ross M. Jones sold 762,895 shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.00, for a total transaction of $124,351,885.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 70,749 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,532,087. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.79% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $189.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $172.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $185.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Stephens increased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $182.00 to $193.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 17th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, May 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight 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 a consensus target price of $175.00.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of WMS opened at $179.24 on Wednesday. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 52-week low of $93.16 and a 52-week high of $184.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 2.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $166.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $147.78. The company has a market capitalization of $13.91 billion, a PE ratio of 27.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.51.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 16th. The construction company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.28. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 17.74% and a return on equity of 46.93%. The firm had revenue of $653.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $611.99 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.06 earnings per share. Advanced Drainage Systems’s quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.75 EPS for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.36%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This is a positive change from Advanced Drainage Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Advanced Drainage Systems’s payout ratio is presently 8.70%.

Advanced Drainage Systems Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products, and drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplaces in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments.