Convergence Investment Partners LLC Takes Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Convergence Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 2,404 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $445,000.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Smithfield Trust Co increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the third quarter worth about $28,000. HM Payson & Co. boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the third quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sittner & Nelson LLC grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total value of $9,349,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at $196,263,808.16. The trade was a 4.55 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

WSM traded down $13.97 on Friday, reaching $195.36. The company had a trading volume of 851,280 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,255,310. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $110.93 and a 52-week high of $219.98. The company has a market cap of $24.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.79. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $200.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $165.64.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on WSM shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $172.34.

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.