WMB Stock Gets Weaker EPS Estimate from US Capital Advisors

Key Points

• US Capital Advisors lowered Williams Companies’ Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $0.51 from $0.54, while projecting FY2026 EPS of $2.33 and FY2027 EPS of $2.24.
• Williams recently reported quarterly EPS of $0.50 in line with estimates, while revenue rose 9.8% year over year to $3.05 billion. Analysts remain broadly bullish, with a consensus “Buy” rating and an average price target of $86.06.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, equivalent to $2.10 annually and a yield of approximately 2.8%; institutional investors own 86.44% of the stock.

Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) - Research analysts at US Capital Advisors decreased their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for shares of Williams Companies in a research report issued on Tuesday, October 27th. US Capital Advisors analyst J. Carreker now anticipates that the pipeline company will earn $0.51 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.54. The consensus estimate for Williams Companies' current full-year earnings is $2.42 per share. US Capital Advisors also issued estimates for Williams Companies' Q4 2026 earnings at $0.60 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.33 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.62 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.46 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.53 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.64 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $2.24 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $2.81 EPS.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) 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 analysts' expectations of $2.83 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.46 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Williams Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.350-2.350 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of Williams Companies from $86.00 to $85.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Williams Companies from $99.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Williams Companies from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Williams Companies in a research report on Monday, September 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $86.06.

Williams Companies Price Performance

Shares of Williams Companies stock opened at $74.23 on Thursday. Williams Companies has a twelve month low of $56.19 and a twelve month high of $80.07. 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 company has a 50-day simple moving average of $72.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $72.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.64.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WMB. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the second quarter worth approximately $3,320,606,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 43.4% in the 2nd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 33,097,208 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $2,460,446,000 after purchasing an additional 10,013,946 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 20.9% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 11,710,478 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $852,289,000 after purchasing an additional 2,020,899 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in Williams Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $596,077,000. Finally, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Williams Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $500,305,000. 86.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams Companies

In related news, SVP Terrance Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.85, for a total transaction of $135,700.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 262,259 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,794,273.15. This trade represents a 0.76% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 19,000 shares of company stock worth $1,401,430. Corporate insiders own 0.47% of the company's stock.

Williams Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 11th will be given a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 11th. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Williams Companies's payout ratio is presently 83.67%.

More Williams Companies News

Here are the key news stories impacting Williams Companies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: WMB recently moved above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, signaling improving short-term and long-term momentum. These breakouts may attract technical traders and reinforce the view that the stock has established support near current levels. WMB 50-day moving average article WMB 200-day moving average article
• Positive Sentiment: Unusual options activity points to bullish positioning: investors purchased about 151,361 WMB call options, roughly 997% above typical call volume. Options activity is speculative, but it suggests increased expectations for further gains. WMB options and moving average article
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are looking ahead to third-quarter results, with the Socrates Phase 1 project, the Momentum acquisition and strong natural-gas demand identified as potential growth drivers. Williams’ fee-based pipeline model also makes it a relatively defensive energy holding, including for power demand from data centers. Williams Q3 earnings preview
• Neutral Sentiment: Williams declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, payable December 28 to shareholders of record December 11. The $2.10 annualized payout represents a yield of approximately 2.8%, but the dividend was maintained rather than increased. Williams quarterly dividend announcement
• Negative Sentiment: Rising interest rates could pressure WMB’s valuation and increase financing costs, particularly given its relatively high leverage. Higher yields may also make the company’s dividend less attractive compared with cash and other income investments, while rising operating costs remain a risk ahead of earnings.

About Williams Companies

The Williams Companies, Inc is an energy infrastructure company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 1908 as Williams Brothers, the company has evolved from an early pipeline contractor into a major operator of natural gas infrastructure in the United States.

Williams primarily gathers, processes, transports and stores natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its assets include interstate and regional pipelines, gas processing and fractionation facilities, storage operations, and gathering systems that connect producers with utilities, industrial customers, power generators and other energy markets.

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