Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio Sells 1,369 Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. $WSM

Key Points

• The Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio reduced its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. by 3.1%, selling 1,369 shares and holding a total of 42,256 shares valued at approximately $6.9 million.
• Williams-Sonoma reported a strong earnings performance with $2.00 EPS, beating estimates, and a revenue of $1.84 billion, a 2.7% increase year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.66 per share with a dividend yield of 1.3%, and a payout ratio of 29.04%.

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio trimmed its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 3.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,256 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 1,369 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $6,903,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Maseco LLP bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 99.0% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 199 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Sentry Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the first quarter worth $32,000. Costello Asset Management INC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the first quarter valued at about $33,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE WSM opened at $201.58 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $24.55 billion, a PE ratio of 22.18, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.52. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1-year low of $125.33 and a 1-year high of $219.98. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $196.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $172.66.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 27th. The specialty retailer reported $2.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.79 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 54.47% and a net margin of 14.54%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.74 EPS. Williams-Sonoma has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 17th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.04%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on WSM shares. Argus set a $212.00 target price on Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Tuesday, September 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $168.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, August 25th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 28th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $202.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $199.11.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,153 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.84, for a total value of $626,942.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 34,138 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,787,999.92. This trade represents a 8.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Randolph King sold 17,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.60, for a total transaction of $3,563,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 98,560 shares in the company, valued at $20,066,816. This trade represents a 15.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 148,153 shares of company stock valued at $28,622,248 over the last ninety days. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Williams-Sonoma

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.

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