Princeton Global Asset Management LLC Purchases 2,300 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Princeton Global Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 3,593.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,364 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 2,300 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $438,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 186.0% in the third quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 7,536 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,167,000 after buying an additional 4,901 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 97.1% during the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,167 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $955,000 after purchasing an additional 3,038 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 94.8% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 19,535 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $3,026,000 after purchasing an additional 9,509 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 27.2% in the 3rd quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 38,512 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $5,966,000 after purchasing an additional 8,237 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 67.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 29,959 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $4,641,000 after purchasing an additional 12,061 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Up 0.7 %

WSM stock traded up $1.42 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $210.91. 875,760 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,319,086. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $194.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $161.16. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52 week low of $101.68 and a 52 week high of $219.98. The company has a market cap of $25.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.79.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors 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 dividend yield of 1.08%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on WSM shares. Telsey Advisory Group increased their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wedbush upped their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $172.34.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the firm's 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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This trade represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the chief executive officer now 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 quarter, insiders have sold 88,160 shares of company stock worth $15,129,352. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

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.