Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Makes New $613,000 Investment in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,301 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $613,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,332,268 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $847,610,000 after purchasing an additional 52,799 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 34.6% in the 4th quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,530,000 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $291,723,000 after purchasing an additional 650,052 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 45.8% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,732,827 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $200,315,000 after purchasing an additional 544,109 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,402,447 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $162,123,000 after purchasing an additional 16,415 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,192,746 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $137,924,000 after purchasing an additional 5,868 shares during the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WMS has been the topic of several research reports. KeyCorp dropped their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Barclays reduced their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $149.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. StockNews.com raised Advanced Drainage Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Friday, February 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $149.25.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMS opened at $115.21 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $108.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $120.11. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $93.92 and a twelve month high of $184.27. The company has a market cap of $8.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.27, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.25). Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. Research analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

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.