Grant Private Wealth Management Inc Invests $489,000 in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Grant Private Wealth Management Inc purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 2,642 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $489,000.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 15.5% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 396 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,474 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $643,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Westmount Partners LLC increased its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,156,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Bailard Inc. lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 4,091 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $758,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the period. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,575 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $477,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares of the company's stock, valued at $196,263,808.16. This trade represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $273,602.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,014,116.16. The trade was a 2.95 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 112,720 shares of company stock valued at $20,616,369. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of NYSE WSM traded up $3.08 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $141.94. The company's stock had a trading volume of 6,801,017 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,023,444. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $125.33 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $188.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $173.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.79, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 19th. The specialty retailer reported $3.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.34 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.54% and a return on equity of 51.56%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $5.44 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, May 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 17th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.86%. This is a boost from Williams-Sonoma's previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on WSM shares. UBS Group raised Williams-Sonoma from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $140.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $226.00 to $208.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $195.00 to $170.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $195.00 to $185.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $176.93.

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.