Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB Buys 8,490 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 457.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,344 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 8,490 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $1,602,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WSM. Smithfield Trust Co lifted 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 valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the third quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter valued at $29,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 2.2 %

WSM traded up $4.25 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $195.63. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,395,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,366,802. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $153.19 and a 200 day simple moving average of $148.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.08 billion, a PE ratio of 23.14, a PEG ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $95.76 and a fifty-two week high of $198.70.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on WSM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. 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 note on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $154.41.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 83,160 shares of company stock valued at $11,590,952 over the last 90 days. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate 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.