Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by Private Client Services LLC

Private Client Services LLC cut its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 48.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,892 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 2,753 shares during the period. Private Client Services LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $536,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 72.7% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,781,201 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,360,384,000 after buying an additional 3,695,837 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 108.8% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,329,125 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $825,588,000 after acquiring an additional 2,777,339 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 107.5% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,689,451 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $418,223,000 after acquiring an additional 1,393,436 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 118.7% during the 3rd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,110,320 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $326,931,000 after acquiring an additional 1,145,410 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 104.8% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,105,336 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $171,239,000 after acquiring an additional 565,745 shares during the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Down 0.4 %

WSM traded down $0.84 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $194.53. 1,572,068 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,466,246. The company has a market cap of $23.95 billion, a PE ratio of 23.01, a PEG ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.79. The firm's fifty day moving average is $169.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $152.59. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.76 and a 1-year high of $200.56.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is currently 26.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Wedbush upped their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $160.03.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction 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 approximately $8,228,767.32. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, 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 transaction of $5,219,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $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. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.