Williams Companies, Inc. (The) $WMB Stake Boosted by Eventide Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Eventide Asset Management LLC has increased its stake in Williams Companies by 13.8% to $60.63 million, now holding over 1 million shares, making it the 20th largest position in their portfolio.
• Williams Companies reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.46, missing analysts' expectations of $0.49, with a revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50, reflecting a 3.5% dividend yield, with a payout ratio of 100.50%.

Eventide Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) by 13.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,015,523 shares of the pipeline company's stock after acquiring an additional 123,289 shares during the quarter. Williams Companies comprises about 1.2% of Eventide Asset Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 20th largest position. Eventide Asset Management LLC owned 0.08% of Williams Companies worth $60,626,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WMB. Menard Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Saudi Central Bank acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Williams Companies by 4,490.9% during the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.44% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Williams Companies

In related news, COO Larry C. Larsen sold 4,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.47, for a total transaction of $263,115.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 77,612 shares in the company, valued at $4,537,973.64. This trade represents a 5.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.62, for a total value of $115,240.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 311,645 shares in the company, valued at $17,956,984.90. This trade represents a 0.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 10,500 shares of company stock valued at $623,115. Company insiders own 0.44% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMB has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $63.00 target price on shares of Williams Companies in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. CIBC raised shares of Williams Companies from a "neutral" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and set a $64.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Wolfe Research upgraded Williams Companies from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Williams Companies in a report on Monday, July 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $67.00 price target for the company. Finally, Cibc World Mkts upgraded Williams Companies from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $62.86.

Williams Companies Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of Williams Companies stock traded down $0.27 on Monday, hitting $56.93. 4,668,252 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,620,628. The stock has a market cap of $69.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.61, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. The firm's 50-day moving average is $58.17 and its 200 day moving average is $58.39. Williams Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $43.98 and a 52-week high of $63.45.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.90 billion. Williams Companies had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 16.23%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share. Williams Companies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.010-2.190 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Williams Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 12th. Williams Companies's dividend payout ratio is 100.50%.

About Williams Companies

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.