Systematic Financial Management LP Acquires 106,419 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Systematic Financial Management LP boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 111.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 202,296 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 106,419 shares during the period. Systematic Financial Management LP owned 0.16% of Williams-Sonoma worth $31,340,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FMR LLC grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 72.7% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,781,201 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,360,384,000 after purchasing an additional 3,695,837 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 118.7% during the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,110,320 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $326,931,000 after acquiring an additional 1,145,410 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 104.8% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,105,336 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $171,239,000 after acquiring an additional 565,745 shares during the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 324.4% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 1,036,256 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $160,537,000 after purchasing an additional 792,068 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 84.5% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,020,489 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $158,085,000 after purchasing an additional 467,407 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE WSM traded down $3.55 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $183.44. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,066,994 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,968,870. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $94.63 and a one year high of $187.38. The company has a market cap of $22.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 1.81. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $148.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $145.91.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 18th were issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 18th. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is 26.97%.

Insider Activity

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 shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. The trade was a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.27, for a total transaction of $5,810,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,030,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $149,766,978.12. The trade was a 3.73 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 83,160 shares of company stock valued at $11,590,952 over the last three months. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on WSM shares. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Citigroup dropped their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Wedbush upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment 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 data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target 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.