Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Stake Increased by Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 98.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 833,355 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 413,226 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 0.66% of Williams-Sonoma worth $129,103,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WSM. Quent Capital LLC lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 19.7% in the first quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 358 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $114,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 374.8% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 489 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $155,000 after purchasing an additional 386 shares during the period. EntryPoint Capital LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 520.0% during the 1st quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 93 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 1st quarter worth $3,906,000. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the first quarter valued at $416,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 11,100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.66, for a total value of $1,494,726.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 15,150 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,040,099. This represents a 42.29 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.27, for a total value of $5,810,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,030,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at $149,766,978.12. The trade was a 3.73 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 91,100 shares of company stock valued at $12,525,126. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 2.1 %

NYSE WSM traded down $3.75 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $174.10. The stock had a trading volume of 1,750,611 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,977,921. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $144.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of $145.01. The company has a market cap of $22.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.76. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $90.87 and a 52-week high of $181.42.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 18th were given a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 18th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.31%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Barclays increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wedbush upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment 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 MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $154.41.

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.