Insider Selling: Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) CFO Sells $5,904,037.76 in Stock

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 32,684 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.64, for a total transaction of $5,904,037.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 34,138 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,166,688.32. This trade represents a 48.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WSM opened at $175.50 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $20.95 billion, a PE ratio of 19.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.64. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $200.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $194.25. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $130.07 and a one year high of $222.00.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 18th. The specialty retailer reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.90 by $0.14. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 51.45% and a net margin of 13.94%.The firm had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.28 earnings per share. Williams-Sonoma’s quarterly revenue was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 17th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This is a boost from Williams-Sonoma’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 17th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.83%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on WSM shares. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $250.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $180.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $188.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $206.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. Finally, Zelman & Associates upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $205.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, January 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $209.56.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WSM. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 51.5% during the fourth quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 147 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 111.8% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 144 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, DV Equities LLC bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

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.