Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) Reaches New 12-Month High Following Analyst Upgrade

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) hit a new 52-week high on Monday after Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on the stock from $165.00 to $185.00. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Williams-Sonoma traded as high as $200.04 and last traded at $199.58, with a volume of 579693 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $192.70.

WSM has been the topic of several other reports. TD Cowen raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Citigroup reduced 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. upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an “outperform” 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $160.03.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. The trade was a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value of $560,552.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WSM. TD Asset Management Inc grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 99.2% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 9,374 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $2,647,000 after acquiring an additional 4,667 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 4.6% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 9,501 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $2,620,000 after buying an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 9.4% in the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 141,694 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $40,010,000 after buying an additional 12,208 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 16.3% in the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 3,797 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,037,000 after buying an additional 532 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 569.8% during the 2nd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 4,943 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,396,000 after acquiring an additional 4,205 shares during the period. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average of $167.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $152.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.79.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be issued 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 currently 26.98%.

About Williams-Sonoma

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.