Soltis Investment Advisors LLC Grows Stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Soltis Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 15,879 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 577 shares during the quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,941,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth approximately $238,000. Martin Capital Advisors LLP raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Martin Capital Advisors LLP now owns 24,762 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $4,585,000 after acquiring an additional 970 shares in the last quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter valued at $222,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Tobam purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth about $55,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $129,309,848.44. This represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction 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 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. Over the last three months, insiders sold 88,160 shares of company stock valued at $15,129,352. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WSM opened at $207.26 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $196.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $161.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.51, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.79. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $103.50 and a one year high of $219.98.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.10%. Williams-Sonoma’s payout ratio is currently 26.97%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on WSM shares. 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. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Telsey Advisory Group increased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted 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. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target 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.