Williams Companies, Inc. (The) $WMB Shares Acquired by Focus Partners Wealth

Key Points

• Focus Partners Wealth has increased its stake in Williams Companies, acquiring an additional 7,854 shares, bringing its total ownership to 663,929 shares valued at approximately $39.68 million.
• Several institutional investors have also raised their positions in the company, with 86.44% of the stock currently held by institutional investors and hedge funds.
• Williams Companies declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, representing an annualized yield of 3.4%, with a payout ratio of 100.50%.

Focus Partners Wealth boosted its holdings in shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) by 1.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 663,929 shares of the pipeline company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,854 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth owned approximately 0.05% of Williams Companies worth $39,676,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Castleview Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 4,492 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $268,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP lifted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 20.3% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,095 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Napa Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Napa Wealth Management now owns 7,190 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $389,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Mirador Capital Partners LP lifted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Mirador Capital Partners LP now owns 16,712 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $999,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Perkins Coie Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 1,700 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $102,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 86.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams Companies

In other news, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.62, for a total transaction 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 represents a 0.64% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Larry C. Larsen sold 4,500 shares of the 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 owned 77,612 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,537,973.64. This trade represents a 5.48% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 10,500 shares of company stock worth $623,115. 0.44% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Williams Companies in a research report on Monday, July 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $67.00 price target for the company. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Argus reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $66.00 target price on shares of Williams Companies in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Williams Companies from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $62.86.

Williams Companies Stock Up 1.9%

WMB stock opened at $58.68 on Thursday. Williams Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $43.98 and a 12-month high of $63.45. 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 company has a market cap of $71.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.49, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a 50 day moving average of $58.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $58.38.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 previous year, the company earned $0.43 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue 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. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 12th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. 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.

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