Kensington Investment Counsel LLC Has $9.49 Million Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Kensington Investment Counsel LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 1.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 51,266 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 820 shares during the quarter. Williams-Sonoma accounts for approximately 4.0% of Kensington Investment Counsel LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Kensington Investment Counsel LLC’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $9,493,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Smithfield Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC now owns 236 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

NYSE:WSM opened at $174.99 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $199.43 and its 200 day moving average is $171.65. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $125.33 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.54 billion, a PE ratio of 20.70, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total value of $273,602.56. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $9,014,116.16. This trade represents a 2.95 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total value 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. The trade was a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $230.00 price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Monday. Wedbush restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $190.00 price target (up from $175.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $176.28.

Williams-Sonoma Company 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.