Diversify Wealth Management LLC Grows Stock Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Diversify Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 56.0% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 5,119 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after buying an additional 1,838 shares during the quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $1,008,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $244,000. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. now owns 2,837 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $525,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter valued at $533,000. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 52.8% in the fourth quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 7,367 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 2,547 shares during the period. Finally, Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,322,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

WSM opened at $202.73 on Tuesday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.76 and a 12 month high of $204.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.98, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 1.79. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $180.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $155.99.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.12%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WSM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Telsey Advisory Group increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective 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. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $160.03.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, 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 completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total transaction of $5,219,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.