Stifel Financial Corp Purchases 9,509 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 94.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,535 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 9,509 shares during the quarter. Stifel Financial Corp's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $3,026,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on WSM. Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $158.78.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at $129,309,848.44. This represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 6.1 %

WSM traded down $12.14 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $186.07. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,208,736 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,973,753. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $155.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $149.03. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.76 and a 12 month high of $199.41.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

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 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 yield of 1.23%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.98%.

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.