Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. Grows Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 252,289 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 7,443 shares during the quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. owned approximately 0.20% of Williams-Sonoma worth $46,719,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,474 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $643,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Westmount Partners LLC boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,156,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its position in 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 boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% during the third 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 last quarter. Finally, Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company's stock.

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 shares were 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 owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $196,263,808.16. The trade was a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Up 3.8 %

NYSE WSM traded up $7.82 on Friday, hitting $214.88. 1,126,836 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,244,265. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $108.74 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98. The company has a market cap of $26.45 billion, a PE ratio of 25.41, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $198.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $163.37.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price 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.