Empowered Funds LLC Has $6.42 Million Stock Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Empowered Funds LLC decreased its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 75.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 34,666 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 106,167 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $6,419,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its stake 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 purchasing an additional 4,901 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 97.1% in the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,167 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $955,000 after purchasing an additional 3,038 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 94.8% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 19,535 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $3,026,000 after buying an additional 9,509 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 27.2% during the third quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 38,512 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $5,966,000 after buying an additional 8,237 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 67.4% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 29,959 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $4,641,000 after buying an additional 12,061 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Williams-Sonoma stock traded up $7.82 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $214.88. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,126,836 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,244,265. The firm's 50 day moving average is $198.34 and its 200 day moving average is $163.37. The company has a market cap of $26.45 billion, a PE ratio of 25.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.79. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $108.74 and a 52-week high of $219.98.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total transaction of $9,349,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 944,666 shares of the company's stock, valued at $196,263,808.16. This trade represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, 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 sale, 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Loop Capital raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $172.34.

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.