Geode Capital Management LLC Purchases 1,393,436 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 107.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,689,451 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,393,436 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 2.13% of Williams-Sonoma worth $418,223,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Insight Inv LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 81.3% in the third quarter. Insight Inv LLC now owns 21,866 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $3,387,000 after purchasing an additional 9,803 shares during the last quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 10.9% during the third quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC now owns 2,332 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $361,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Brophy Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the third quarter worth $446,000. Vestcor Inc boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 74.8% in the third quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 115,026 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $17,820,000 after acquiring an additional 49,235 shares in the last quarter. Finally, M&T Bank Corp increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 100.4% during the 3rd quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 27,577 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $4,272,000 after purchasing an additional 13,815 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $129,309,848.44. The trade was a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 83,160 shares of company stock worth $11,590,952. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WSM shares. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $148.00 to $156.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. Three 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $154.41.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 2.2 %

NYSE:WSM opened at $195.64 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $24.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.81. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.76 and a 12 month high of $198.70. The business’s 50-day moving average is $152.30 and its 200 day moving average is $147.60.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

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 given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.97%.

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.