Bank of Stockton Buys 7,774 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Bank of Stockton grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 93.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,074 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 7,774 shares during the quarter. Williams-Sonoma makes up approximately 0.8% of Bank of Stockton's holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Bank of Stockton's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,490,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. EntryPoint Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 520.0% during the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 93 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, ORG Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the first quarter worth $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Down 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE:WSM traded down $2.76 during trading on Friday, hitting $134.76. 1,617,339 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,913,047. The stock has a market cap of $17.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.74. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $71.56 and a fifty-two week high of $174.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $142.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $145.83.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 22nd. The specialty retailer reported $1.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.13. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.29% and a return on equity of 51.57%. The firm had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.56 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 7.99 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 18th. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is currently 27.39%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams-Sonoma news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 11,100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.66, for a total transaction of $1,494,726.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 15,150 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,040,099. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.27, for a total value of $5,810,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,030,956 shares in the company, valued at $149,766,978.12. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 11,100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.66, for a total value of $1,494,726.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 15,150 shares in the company, valued at $2,040,099. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Williams-Sonoma from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $148.00 to $156.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. Wedbush lowered their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $175.00 to $150.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $155.00 to $135.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $140.83.

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.