Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by Larson Financial Group LLC

Larson Financial Group LLC lowered its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 7.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,894 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 160 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $351,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 32.9% during the third quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 6,112 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $947,000 after buying an additional 1,513 shares during the period. Leavell Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 3rd quarter worth about $214,000. Atria Investments Inc boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 239.1% during the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 2,560 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $397,000 after acquiring an additional 1,805 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 88.5% during the 3rd quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,473 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 1,161 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 179.3% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,285 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $199,000 after acquiring an additional 825 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total value of $9,349,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 944,666 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $196,263,808.16. The trade was a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $273,602.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,014,116.16. This trade represents a 2.95 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wedbush reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $190.00 price target (up previously from $175.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Gordon Haskett raised Williams-Sonoma to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $173.28.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

NYSE WSM opened at $185.73 on Tuesday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $117.13 and a 12 month high of $219.98. The company has a market capitalization of $22.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $201.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $170.38.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 17th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.98%.

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.