Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Position Boosted by Venturi Wealth Management LLC

Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 69.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,684 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 4,796 shares during the quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,164,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,474 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $643,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Westmount Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,156,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. Smithfield Trust Co grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the third quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $500,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Finally, Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC lifted its position 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 valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Shares of WSM traded down $14.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $195.03. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,702,748 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,281,432. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $200.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $165.64. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $110.93 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.07, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.79.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, 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 value of $560,552.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This trade represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total transaction of $9,349,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at $196,263,808.16. This represents a 4.55 % 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 Analyst Weigh In

WSM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup decreased 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Barclays raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Gordon Haskett raised Williams-Sonoma to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $172.34.

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.