LSV Asset Management Has $27.75 Million Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

LSV Asset Management reduced its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 26.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 137,510 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 49,864 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management owned 0.21% of Williams-Sonoma worth $27,747,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. MCF Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 129.3% during the third quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 188 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 820.0% during the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 230 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 30.5% in the fourth quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 231 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the period. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on WSM shares. Oppenheimer restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Friday, March 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the company from $154.00 to $263.00 in a report on Thursday, March 14th. Wedbush restated an "outperform" rating and set a $330.00 target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Thursday, March 21st. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $146.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, March 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Williams-Sonoma from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $270.00 in a report on Thursday, March 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $256.19.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 1,145 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.06, for a total transaction of $330,973.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,966 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,013,591.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Marta Benson sold 17,816 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $308.19, for a total transaction of $5,490,713.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 68,597 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,140,909.43. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 1,145 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $289.06, for a total value of $330,973.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,966 shares in the company, valued at $2,013,591.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 41,145 shares of company stock valued at $12,182,219. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE WSM traded up $3.65 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $308.35. 698,920 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 999,743. The company has a market capitalization of $19.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.72. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $283.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $224.11. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.44 and a 52-week high of $319.78.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $5.44 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.06 by $0.38. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 12.25% and a return on equity of 55.15%. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.22 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.50 EPS. Williams-Sonoma's revenue for the quarter was down 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 15.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 24th. Investors of record on Friday, April 19th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 18th. This is an increase from Williams-Sonoma's previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio is 31.02%.

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.