Retirement Systems of Alabama Raises Stock Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 72.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 206,645 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 86,742 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned about 0.17% of Williams-Sonoma worth $32,013,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Smithfield Trust Co grew its stake in shares of 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 buying an additional 80 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% in the third quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $500,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 3.1% in the second quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 2,746 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $776,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter valued at $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available 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 shares were 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 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. In the last three months, insiders have sold 83,160 shares of company stock valued at $11,590,952. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Shares of Williams-Sonoma stock traded up $4.25 on Friday, reaching $195.63. 2,395,097 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,366,802. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $153.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $147.96. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.76 and a 1-year high of $198.70. The company has a market cap of $24.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be issued 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 dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.97%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on WSM. Wedbush increased their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital boosted their price target 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. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $154.41.

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.