Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Receives $154.41 Consensus Price Target from Brokerages

Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the eighteen analysts that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $154.41.

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on WSM shares. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Loop Capital increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 83,160 shares of company stock valued at $11,590,952. Insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 403.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,045 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $3,825,000 after purchasing an additional 9,651 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 81.2% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 3,348 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,063,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 24.4% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 789 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $223,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the period. DNB Asset Management AS boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. DNB Asset Management AS now owns 9,850 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $2,781,000 after acquiring an additional 344 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 12.0% in the second quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 3,312 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $935,000 after acquiring an additional 356 shares during the period. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Up 3.2 %

WSM opened at $188.82 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.33, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.81. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $149.33 and a 200-day moving average of $146.38. Williams-Sonoma has a 12-month low of $94.63 and a 12-month high of $190.08.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 18th were given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 18th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.97%.

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.