Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC Sells 15,412 Shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB)

Key Points

• Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC sold 15,412 shares of Williams Companies, reducing its holdings by 4.7% to 312,567 shares valued at approximately $18.4 million.
• Williams Companies announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, with an upcoming ex-dividend date of September 12, representing a 3.4% annual yield.
• Wall Street analysts have varying opinions on Williams Companies, with ratings ranging from "hold" to "buy," and an average target price of $61.77.

Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC trimmed its holdings in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) by 4.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 312,567 shares of the pipeline company's stock after selling 15,412 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC's holdings in Williams Companies were worth $18,423,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. HWG Holdings LP bought a new stake in Williams Companies during the first quarter worth $26,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Williams Companies by 4,490.9% in the first quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 505 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 494 shares during the last quarter. Abound Financial LLC bought a new position in Williams Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Hughes Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Williams Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. 86.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams Companies

In related news, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of Williams Companies stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.68, for a total transaction of $119,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 313,645 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,718,333.60. This trade represents a 0.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.44% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on WMB shares. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Monday, July 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $67.00 price target on the stock. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $63.00 price objective on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Wolfe Research raised Williams Companies from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Williams Companies from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $61.77.

Williams Companies Stock Performance

Shares of WMB opened at $58.66 on Thursday. Williams Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $42.79 and a 52-week high of $63.45. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $59.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.66.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $2.78 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.90 billion. Williams Companies had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 16.23%. Williams Companies's revenue was up 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.43 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 12th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 12th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Williams Companies's dividend payout ratio is presently 106.95%.

Williams Companies Company Profile

The Williams Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises natural gas pipelines; Transco, Northwest pipeline, MountainWest, and related natural gas storage facilities; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region.

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