Virtu Financial LLC Invests $1.07 Million in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 5,789 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $1,072,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 15.5% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 396 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,474 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $643,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Westmount Partners LLC raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,156,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Bailard Inc. raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 4,091 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $758,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,575 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Remove Ads

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. UBS Group raised Williams-Sonoma from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $140.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $226.00 to $208.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $123.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Wedbush lowered their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $190.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Monday, March 17th. One equities research analyst has 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 MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $177.93.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

WSM stock traded down $2.22 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $168.08. 838,418 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,917,684. The firm's 50 day moving average is $196.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $172.90. The stock has a market cap of $20.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $125.33 and a 1 year high of $219.98.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 19th. The specialty retailer reported $3.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $2.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.54% and a return on equity of 51.56%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.44 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, May 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 17th will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. This is an increase from Williams-Sonoma's previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 17th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is 29.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total transaction of $9,349,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares of the company's stock, valued at $196,263,808.16. This represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $273,602.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,014,116.16. The trade was 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.

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.