Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by Assenagon Asset Management S.A.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lessened its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 12.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,769 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 1,127 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $1,439,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 69.7% in the 4th quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 370 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Cooper Financial Group increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 6.6% in the fourth quarter. Cooper Financial Group now owns 5,845 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,082,000 after buying an additional 360 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital acquired a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth $403,000. Westmount Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,156,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 26,024 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $4,819,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on WSM shares. Loop Capital raised their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Wedbush upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $163.16.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

NYSE WSM opened at $211.79 on Friday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a twelve month low of $95.76 and a twelve month high of $212.92. The stock has a market cap of $26.07 billion, a PE ratio of 25.05, a PEG ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 1.79. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $184.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $156.87.

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 dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s payout ratio is presently 26.97%.

Insider Activity

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total value of $9,349,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at $196,263,808.16. The trade was a 4.55 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing 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 on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were 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 represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 88,160 shares of company stock worth $15,129,352. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma 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.