Geode Capital Management LLC Boosts Stock Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 107.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,689,451 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 1,393,436 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 2.13% of Williams-Sonoma worth $418,223,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Smithfield Trust Co raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the third 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 period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $500,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. TFG Advisers LLC lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.1% during the second quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 2,746 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $776,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the third quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Finally, Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter valued at $26,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

WSM traded up $4.25 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $195.63. The stock had a trading volume of 2,395,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,366,802. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.76 and a 1 year high of $198.70. The business has a fifty day moving average of $153.19 and a 200 day moving average of $147.96. The company has a market cap of $24.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.27, for a total transaction of $5,810,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,030,956 shares in the company, valued at $149,766,978.12. This trade represents a 3.73 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value 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 $8,228,767.32. This trade represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 83,160 shares of company stock valued at $11,590,952. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on WSM. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Williams-Sonoma from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $148.00 to $156.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus 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.