Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Purchased by National Bank of Canada FI

National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 51.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,416 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 4,915 shares during the quarter. National Bank of Canada FI's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,233,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 186.0% in the third quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 7,536 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,167,000 after buying an additional 4,901 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 97.1% in the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,167 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $955,000 after buying an additional 3,038 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 27.2% in the third quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 38,512 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $5,966,000 after acquiring an additional 8,237 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings 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 worth $326,931,000 after purchasing an additional 1,145,410 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 67.4% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 29,959 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $4,641,000 after purchasing an additional 12,061 shares during the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

WSM traded up $4.25 on Friday, hitting $195.63. 2,395,097 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,366,802. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $153.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $147.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.08 billion, a PE ratio of 23.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.76 and a 12 month high of $198.70.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on WSM. Loop Capital lifted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $154.41.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value of $560,552.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. This trade represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total transaction of $5,219,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now 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 have sold 83,160 shares of company stock worth $11,590,952 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Company 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.