JPMorgan Chase & Co. Grows Stock Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 118.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 622,279 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 337,564 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned 0.51% of Williams-Sonoma worth $96,403,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds 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 3rd quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in 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 in the last quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC raised its position 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 valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, HM Payson & Co. raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during 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 during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 2.7 %

NYSE:WSM traded up $5.15 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $192.70. 1,010,393 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,182,447. The firm has a market cap of $23.72 billion, a PE ratio of 22.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a twelve month low of $95.76 and a twelve month high of $199.41. The stock's 50-day moving average is $166.44 and its 200-day moving average is $152.05.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed 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 is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.18%. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is currently 26.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WSM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Telsey Advisory Group increased their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays increased their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wedbush boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Citigroup reduced their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note 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 issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $158.78.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams-Sonoma news, 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 transaction of $560,552.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate 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.