The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) Shares Sold by Asset Management One Co. Ltd.

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. decreased its holdings in The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) by 3.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 525,545 shares of the pipeline company's stock after selling 20,936 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.'s holdings in Williams Companies were worth $28,348,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new stake in shares of Williams Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $720,000. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Williams Companies by 13.8% during the fourth quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 162,799 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $8,811,000 after buying an additional 19,782 shares during the period. Golden State Equity Partners grew its position in shares of Williams Companies by 319.9% during the 4th quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 12,038 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $651,000 after acquiring an additional 9,171 shares during the period. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in Williams Companies by 81.4% during the fourth quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 185,920 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $10,062,000 after purchasing an additional 83,429 shares during the period. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Williams Companies by 17.0% during the fourth quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 75,278 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $4,074,000 after purchasing an additional 10,950 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.44% of the company's stock.

Williams Companies Price Performance

WMB stock traded up $0.95 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $57.93. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,790,102 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,490,736. The Williams Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $33.85 and a fifty-two week high of $61.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The stock has a market cap of $70.62 billion, a PE ratio of 24.45, a P/E/G ratio of 5.06 and a beta of 1.04. The company's 50 day moving average is $55.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $51.87.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The pipeline company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.47. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 15.89% and a net margin of 27.36%. Equities research analysts expect that The Williams Companies, Inc. will post 1.91 EPS for the current year.

Williams Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.45%. This is an increase from Williams Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. Williams Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 80.17%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on WMB. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Williams Companies from $45.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Scotiabank reissued a "sector perform" rating and set a $51.00 price objective on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Friday, January 10th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Williams Companies from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Williams Companies from $55.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $47.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams Companies has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $53.29.

Williams Companies Company Profile

The Williams Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises natural gas pipelines; Transco, Northwest pipeline, MountainWest, and related natural gas storage facilities; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region.