Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) Raised to Buy at UBS Group

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) was upgraded by UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a $155.00 price objective on the construction company’s stock. UBS Group’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 36.28% from the company’s current price.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the stock. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $135.00 price objective (down from $170.00) on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Barclays decreased their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. KeyCorp dropped 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. Finally, 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. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $168.38.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMS opened at $113.74 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The company has a market cap of $8.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.51. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12 month low of $113.10 and a 12 month high of $184.27. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $129.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $146.63.

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of WMS. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 26.1% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 15,022 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,409,000 after acquiring an additional 3,107 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the second quarter worth $45,000. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 2.1% during the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 10,890 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,747,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems during the second quarter valued at $951,000. Finally, Caprock Group LLC bought a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems in the 2nd quarter worth about $247,000. 89.83% of the stock is 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.