Grace & White Inc. NY Sells 2,100 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Grace & White Inc. NY trimmed its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 3.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 54,930 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 2,100 shares during the period. Williams-Sonoma accounts for approximately 1.9% of Grace & White Inc. NY's investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Grace & White Inc. NY's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $10,172,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the third quarter worth about $28,000. HM Payson & Co. boosted its position 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 buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sittner & Nelson LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

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

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WSM traded up $7.82 during trading on Friday, hitting $214.88. 1,126,836 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,216,403. The business's fifty day moving average is $198.86 and its 200 day moving average is $163.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.79. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $108.74 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

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 issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is currently 26.97%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on WSM. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. TD Cowen raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Telsey Advisory Group upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $172.34.

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.