Principal Financial Group Inc. Raises Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 84.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,020,489 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 467,407 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.83% of Williams-Sonoma worth $158,085,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Smithfield Trust Co lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% during the third quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $500,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.1% during the second quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 2,746 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $776,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased 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 worth $26,000 after buying an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 2.3 %

Williams-Sonoma stock traded up $4.09 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $183.68. The stock had a trading volume of 6,985,110 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,000,427. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $95.76 and a 52-week high of $199.41. The company has a market capitalization of $22.61 billion, a PE ratio of 21.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. The firm's fifty day moving average is $156.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $149.24.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.24%. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is 26.98%.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $129,309,848.44. This represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on WSM. Loop Capital upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $158.78.

Williams-Sonoma 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.