M&T Bank Corp Boosts Stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

M&T Bank Corp grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 100.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,577 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 13,815 shares during the period. M&T Bank Corp's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $4,272,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter worth about $33,000. Smithfield Trust Co raised its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in 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 last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WSM has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. 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. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Wedbush upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $154.41.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WSM traded up $4.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $195.64. The company had a trading volume of 2,394,925 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,967,585. The company has a market capitalization of $24.08 billion, a PE ratio of 23.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.81. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $152.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $147.60. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.76 and a 1-year high of $198.70.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The business 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. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction 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 stock was sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 83,160 shares of company stock worth $11,590,952. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

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.