Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Stake Reduced by Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt

Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt decreased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 98.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,300 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 63,400 shares during the period. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $241,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WSM. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 6.2% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,786 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $3,610,000 after buying an additional 741 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 125.9% in the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 2,853 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $442,000 after acquiring an additional 1,590 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 117.0% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,712 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $265,000 after purchasing an additional 923 shares during the period. Alpha Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the third quarter valued at $216,000. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 76.4% in the 3rd quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,436 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $222,000 after purchasing an additional 622 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total transaction of $9,349,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $196,263,808.16. This represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 88,160 shares of company stock valued at $15,129,352 over the last three months. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 1.8 %

NYSE WSM opened at $207.26 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $195.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $161.51. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12-month low of $103.50 and a 12-month high of $219.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.51 billion, a PE ratio of 24.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.79.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WSM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $172.34.

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.