Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by Nuveen Asset Management LLC

Nuveen Asset Management LLC decreased its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 25.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 475,668 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 162,222 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC owned about 0.39% of Williams-Sonoma worth $88,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter valued at $49,000. Tobam bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth about $55,000. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth approximately $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Down 2.7%

WSM stock traded down $4.61 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $167.91. The stock had a trading volume of 2,058,701 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,054,008. The company has a market cap of $20.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.57. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $125.33 and a 52-week high of $219.98. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $156.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $175.95.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 19th. The specialty retailer reported $3.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 51.56% and a net margin of 14.54%. Williams-Sonoma's quarterly revenue was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.44 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, May 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 17th. This is an increase from Williams-Sonoma's previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is 29.30%.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 30,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.78, for a total value of $4,973,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,018,374 shares of the company's stock, valued at $168,826,041.72. This trade represents a 2.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 915 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.69, for a total value of $129,646.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $6,572,715.72. The trade was a 1.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 80,635 shares of company stock valued at $13,236,175. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on WSM. Baird R W raised Williams-Sonoma from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $201.00 to $174.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Wedbush lowered their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $190.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $195.00 to $185.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $153.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $177.81.

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.