Asset Management One Co. Ltd. Increases Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 10.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 47,467 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 4,512 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.'s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $8,831,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ingalls & Snyder LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC now owns 69,041 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $12,785,000 after acquiring an additional 2,416 shares during the last quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 155.9% in the 4th quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp now owns 10,029 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,857,000 after purchasing an additional 6,110 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 34,152 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $6,324,000 after purchasing an additional 1,807 shares during the last quarter. TFB Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at about $225,000. Finally, Sovran Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at about $395,000. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was 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 approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $196,263,808.16. This trade represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on WSM shares. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased 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. Loop Capital boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. TD Cowen raised 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, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $172.34.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of Williams-Sonoma stock traded down $14.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $195.03. 1,702,748 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,281,432. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $200.79 and a 200-day moving average of $165.64. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $110.93 and a 12 month high of $219.98. The company has a market cap of $24.01 billion, a PE ratio of 23.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.79.

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 issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.97%.

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.