Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Raises Stock Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 109.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,927 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 9,899 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,865,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quest Partners LLC bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter worth $26,000. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Smithfield Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in 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. Finally, Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. 99.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on WSM shares. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price 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. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $154.41.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. The trade was a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 83,160 shares of company stock valued at $11,590,952. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 1.8 %

WSM traded down $3.41 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $186.75. 1,720,551 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,969,395. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.81. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $94.63 and a 52-week high of $192.83. The company's fifty day moving average price is $150.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $146.69.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 18th were issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 18th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is 26.97%.

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.