Baillie Gifford & Co. Trims Stock Holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Baillie Gifford & Co. decreased its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,038,893 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 86,049 shares during the period. Baillie Gifford & Co.’s holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems were worth $477,592,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of WMS. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 10.1% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 7,696 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,326,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the first quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 63.0% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 66,714 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $11,474,000 after acquiring an additional 25,786 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 11.8% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,475 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $426,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the period. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the first quarter valued at approximately $346,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.83% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance

Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock opened at $135.68 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $10.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.61, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.53. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $151.20 and its 200 day moving average is $159.57. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1 year low of $112.11 and a 1 year high of $184.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 2.89 and a quick ratio of 1.90.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.93 by ($0.23). The firm had revenue of $782.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $819.41 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a return on equity of 43.60% and a net margin of 17.09%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.71 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Advanced Drainage Systems’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WMS shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $194.00 to $172.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Loop Capital decreased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. KeyCorp decreased their target price 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their target price 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $178.57.

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.