Synovus Financial Corp Acquires 3,924 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Synovus Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 132.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,893 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 3,924 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corp's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $1,068,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Tidal Investments LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 137.4% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 4,382 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $679,000 after acquiring an additional 2,536 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 457.9% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 10,344 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,602,000 after purchasing an additional 8,490 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the third quarter worth approximately $23,123,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 97.0% in the third quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 42,789 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $7,359,000 after purchasing an additional 21,066 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 140.0% in the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 660 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $102,000 after buying an additional 385 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Citigroup reduced their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Williams-Sonoma from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $148.00 to $156.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. 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 note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group upped their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $154.41.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of WSM traded up $4.18 on Tuesday, hitting $198.21. 3,322,782 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,972,763. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $95.76 and a one year high of $199.41. The company has a market capitalization of $24.40 billion, a PE ratio of 22.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $154.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $148.40.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.15%. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is 26.98%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. The trade was a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.