Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Purchased by CWA Asset Management Group LLC

CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 29.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,281 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 4,651 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $3,756,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pensionfund Sabic acquired a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth $1,574,000. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 48.5% in the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 527,740 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $97,875,000 after buying an additional 172,409 shares during the last quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth about $648,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 118.6% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 622,279 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $96,403,000 after acquiring an additional 337,564 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 84.5% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,020,489 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $158,085,000 after acquiring an additional 467,407 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total transaction of $5,219,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at $129,309,848.44. This represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % 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 corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on WSM. TD Cowen boosted 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. Loop Capital lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group increased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $160.03.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

NYSE WSM traded up $7.36 on Monday, hitting $200.06. The company had a trading volume of 1,678,193 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,347,681. The company's fifty day moving average price is $166.44 and its 200-day moving average price is $151.94. The company has a market capitalization of $24.63 billion, a PE ratio of 23.66, a PEG ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.79. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12-month low of $95.76 and a 12-month high of $200.56.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.14%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.98%.

Williams-Sonoma 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.