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Merit Financial Group LLC Buys 19,145 Shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) $WMB

Williams Companies logo with Energy background

Key Points

  • Merit Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Williams Companies by 22.0%, acquiring an additional 19,145 shares in the second quarter, bringing its total holdings to 106,114 shares valued at approximately $6,665,000.
  • The company's latest earnings report revealed an EPS of $0.46, missing estimates by $0.03, with revenues of $2.78 billion, below the expected $2.90 billion.
  • Williams Companies announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50, translating to an annual yield of 3.1%, with a current payout ratio of 100.50%.
  • Five stocks we like better than Williams Companies.

Merit Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) by 22.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 106,114 shares of the pipeline company's stock after buying an additional 19,145 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Williams Companies were worth $6,665,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Simplicity Wealth LLC raised its stake in Williams Companies by 105.0% in the second quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC now owns 7,646 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $480,000 after buying an additional 3,917 shares in the last quarter. Brown Miller Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Williams Companies by 5.5% in the second quarter. Brown Miller Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,953 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $500,000 after buying an additional 414 shares in the last quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC raised its stake in Williams Companies by 7.1% in the second quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 6,437 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $404,000 after buying an additional 428 shares in the last quarter. Berger Financial Group Inc raised its stake in Williams Companies by 2.1% in the second quarter. Berger Financial Group Inc now owns 11,392 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $716,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. raised its stake in Williams Companies by 15.8% in the second quarter. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. now owns 19,210 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $1,207,000 after buying an additional 2,622 shares in the last quarter. 86.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Williams Companies Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of WMB stock opened at $64.54 on Monday. Williams Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $48.41 and a 12-month high of $65.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. The firm's 50 day moving average is $59.14 and its 200 day moving average is $58.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $78.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.65.

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

Williams Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 12th were issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 12th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. Williams Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 100.50%.

Insider Activity at Williams Companies

In other Williams Companies news, COO Larry C. Larsen sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.47, for a total value of $263,115.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 77,612 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,537,973.64. This trade represents a 5.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.62, for a total transaction of $115,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 311,645 shares in the company, valued at $17,956,984.90. The trade was a 0.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 8,500 shares of company stock worth $497,715 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.44% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WMB has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Williams Companies from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday. CIBC upgraded shares of Williams Companies from a "neutral" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and set a $64.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, August 15th. Argus restated a "buy" rating and issued a $66.00 price objective on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $63.00 price objective on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $65.53.

View Our Latest Report on Williams Companies

Williams Companies Profile

(Free Report)

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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Institutional Ownership by Quarter for Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB)

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