Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS decreased its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 3.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 87,900 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 3,500 shares during the period. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned about 0.07% of Williams-Sonoma worth $13,897,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of WSM. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 15.1% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,902,382 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $352,283,000 after buying an additional 249,389 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth $290,121,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 64.1% during the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 989,700 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $183,273,000 after buying an additional 386,500 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 645,402 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $119,516,000 after buying an additional 24,741 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter valued at $87,148,000. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.96, for a total value of $675,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 34,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,810,196.48. The trade was a 10.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 30,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.18, for a total value of $5,045,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 966,927 shares of the company's stock, valued at $162,617,782.86. The trade was a 3.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 72,000 shares of company stock valued at $11,906,700. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Up 0.7%

WSM stock traded up $1.26 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $181.80. The company's stock had a trading volume of 818,197 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,988,773. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $125.33 and a 52-week high of $219.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.59, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 1.45. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $165.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $173.94.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 22nd. The specialty retailer reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.67 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.35% and a return on equity of 52.79%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.48 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 18th will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 18th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.90%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WSM shares. Zelman & Associates began coverage on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a report on Thursday, May 15th. They set an "underperform" rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird raised shares of Williams-Sonoma from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $170.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, April 7th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $160.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $175.00 to $170.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 17th. Finally, Baird R W raised Williams-Sonoma from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $178.41.

Williams-Sonoma Profile

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.