National Bank of Canada FI Grows Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 51.7% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 14,416 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,915 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,233,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $500,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 2,746 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $776,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter worth $26,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value of $560,552.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 83,160 shares of company stock worth $11,590,952. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 2.2 %

NYSE WSM opened at $195.64 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $24.08 billion, a PE ratio of 23.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.81. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $152.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $147.60. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a twelve month low of $95.76 and a twelve month high of $198.70.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup lowered their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. Wedbush increased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $154.41.

Williams-Sonoma Profile

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.