Zions Bancorporation National Association UT Takes $5.45 Million Position in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB)

Key Points

• Zions Bancorporation National Association UT has acquired 91,123 shares of Williams Companies, Inc. worth approximately $5.45 million in the first quarter, indicating significant institutional interest in the pipeline company.
• Williams Companies reported a missed earnings estimate of $0.46 EPS for the quarter, below the expected $0.49 EPS, despite a year-over-year revenue increase of 19% to $2.78 billion.
• The company recently declared a $0.50 quarterly dividend with a yield of 3.5%, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to returning value to shareholders despite a payout ratio exceeding 100%.

Zions Bancorporation National Association UT bought a new position in shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 91,123 shares of the pipeline company's stock, valued at approximately $5,446,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 4,490.9% during the 1st quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 505 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 494 shares during the period. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Hughes Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.44% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Williams Companies

In other Williams Companies news, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.68, for a total value of $119,360.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 313,645 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,718,333.60. This trade represents a 0.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.44% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Williams Companies Price Performance

WMB stock remained flat at $57.89 during mid-day trading on Friday. 5,384,629 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,923,967. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $59.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $58.25. The company has a market cap of $70.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.09, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.48. Williams Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $42.79 and a one year high of $63.45.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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). The business had revenue of $2.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 16.23% and a net margin of 21.63%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 19.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.43 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Dividend Announcement

The business 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. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 12th. Williams Companies's dividend payout ratio is 100.50%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Williams Companies from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Williams Companies in a report on Monday, July 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $67.00 price objective for the company. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Williams Companies from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Wolfe Research upgraded Williams Companies from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Williams Companies from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $62.00.

Williams Companies Company Profile

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.