Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Stock Holdings Increased by DAVENPORT & Co LLC

DAVENPORT & Co LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 12.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,341 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 1,463 shares during the period. DAVENPORT & Co LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,471,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of WSM. Westmount Partners LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,156,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its stake 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 worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $500,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HM Payson & Co. raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WSM has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $172.34.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE WSM traded down $3.74 on Friday, reaching $207.26. 1,108,988 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,216,403. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.51 billion, a PE ratio of 24.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.79. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $103.50 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98. The company has a 50 day moving average of $196.39 and a 200 day moving average of $161.89.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.97%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value of $560,552.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total transaction of $5,219,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 88,160 shares of company stock worth $15,129,352 over the last three months. 1.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.