Assetmark Inc. Grows Stock Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. $WSM

Assetmark Inc. raised its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 446,971 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,430 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc.’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $87,361,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WSM. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 16.0% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 10,655 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $2,083,000 after purchasing an additional 1,470 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the third quarter valued at about $1,750,000. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.1% during the third quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 243,832 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $47,657,000 after acquiring an additional 2,585 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 164.4% in the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 34,039 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $6,653,000 after acquiring an additional 21,165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 5.0% in the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 1,293 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $253,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 767 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $205.16, for a total transaction of $157,357.72. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 13,236 shares in the company, valued at $2,715,497.76. This trade represents a 5.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 35,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.39, for a total value of $7,258,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 806,537 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $167,267,708.43. This trade represents a 4.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 65,767 shares of company stock valued at $12,802,440 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of WSM stock opened at $206.86 on Friday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $130.07 and a 1 year high of $221.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.69 billion, a PE ratio of 22.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 1.64. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $198.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $194.89.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The specialty retailer reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $1.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.86 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.30% and a return on equity of 53.10%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.96 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th will be paid a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 16th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $225.00 to $220.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $202.00 to $188.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $190.00 to $205.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and issued a $245.00 target price (up previously from $210.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $202.53.

About Williams-Sonoma

Williams‑Sonoma, Inc is a specialty retailer focused on the home and culinary markets, best known for premium cookware, kitchen tools and home furnishings. The company traces its roots to a single cookware store founded by Chuck Williams in 1956 in Sonoma, California, and has evolved into a multi‑brand home furnishings and housewares business. Its merchandise mix spans cookware and kitchen electrics, tabletop and food prep items, furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories designed for both everyday use and higher‑end interiors.

The company operates a portfolio of consumer brands that target distinct segments of the home market.