Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) Upgraded to "Strong-Buy" at Barclays

Key Points

• Barclays upgraded Williams Companies from “hold” to “strong buy,” while analysts overall maintain a “buy” consensus with an average price target of $86.35.
• Williams reported quarterly revenue of $3.05 billion, up 9.8% year over year and above estimates, while earnings of $0.50 per share matched consensus expectations.
• The stock traded up 1.8% to $69.18, although an insider sold 13,000 shares; institutional investors own approximately 86.44% of the company.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Barclays from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Zacks reports.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on WMB. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Williams Companies from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $82.00 target price on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Melius Research began coverage on Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $84.00 price target on the stock. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Williams Companies from $84.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Williams Companies from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $86.35.

Williams Companies Trading Up 1.8%

NYSE WMB opened at $69.18 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $72.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $73.17. Williams Companies has a twelve month low of $56.19 and a twelve month high of $80.07. The company has a market capitalization of $84.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.56, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.65.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.50. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 18.49% and a net margin of 25.17%.The company had revenue of $3.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.46 EPS. Williams Companies's quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Williams Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.350-2.350 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Williams Companies will post 2.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Terrance Wilson sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.87, for a total transaction of $973,310.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 268,159 shares of the company's stock, valued at $20,077,064.33. This trade represents a 4.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders sold 17,000 shares of company stock worth $1,265,730 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.47% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Williams Companies

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Main Street Group LTD purchased a new stake in Williams Companies in the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Allied Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams Companies in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in Williams Companies during the second quarter valued at $28,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC lifted its holdings in Williams Companies by 56.3% in the second quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 386 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 216.8% during the 4th quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 491 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the period. 86.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Williams Companies Company Profile

Williams Companies, Inc is an energy infrastructure company focused primarily on the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Through its extensive network of pipelines and related facilities, the company connects major U.S. producing regions with utilities, industrial customers, power generators and other energy markets.

Williams' principal assets include the Transco interstate natural gas pipeline, which serves markets along the U.S. East Coast, as well as gathering and processing operations in regions such as the Appalachian Basin, the Rocky Mountains and the Western United States.

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