Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) Reaches New 52-Week High After Analyst Upgrade

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday after Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on the stock from $165.00 to $185.00. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Williams-Sonoma traded as high as $200.04 and last traded at $199.58, with a volume of 579693 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $192.70.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Barclays increased their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $160.03.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. The trade was a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company'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 completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $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 currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. TD Asset Management Inc grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 99.2% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 9,374 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $2,647,000 after purchasing an additional 4,667 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 4.6% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 9,501 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $2,620,000 after buying an additional 415 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 9.4% during the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 141,694 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $40,010,000 after acquiring an additional 12,208 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 16.3% during the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 3,797 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,037,000 after acquiring an additional 532 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 448.2% in the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 78,962 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $22,296,000 after acquiring an additional 64,558 shares in the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 3.8 %

The stock's 50 day moving average is $166.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.79.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The firm 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.14%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is currently 26.98%.

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.