Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Has $1.32 Million Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC reduced its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 61.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,119 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 11,565 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $1,318,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Westmount Partners LLC grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% in 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 increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $500,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the third quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WSM has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Telsey Advisory Group boosted 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. Finally, Wedbush raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $160.03.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE:WSM traded up $3.60 on Friday, reaching $202.73. 1,452,286 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,779,851. The company has a market capitalization of $24.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.98, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a fifty day moving average of $179.29 and a 200-day moving average of $155.55. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a twelve month low of $95.76 and a twelve month high of $204.68.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares of the company's stock, valued at $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the business'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 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.