Clearbridge Investments LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Clearbridge Investments LLC reduced its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 225,407 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 15,036 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC owned about 0.35% of Williams-Sonoma worth $45,483,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.3% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,456,161 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $226,287,000 after acquiring an additional 18,004 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 970,737 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $195,882,000 after acquiring an additional 23,918 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the 4th quarter worth about $152,843,000. Boston Trust Walden Corp boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 416,741 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $84,090,000 after purchasing an additional 11,959 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 39.5% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 386,861 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $60,118,000 after purchasing an additional 109,533 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on WSM shares. Loop Capital lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $220.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, March 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Williams-Sonoma from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $245.00 to $275.00 in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Thursday. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $250.00 to $298.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 21st. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $195.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $259.94.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 1,145 shares of the 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 in the company, valued at $2,013,591.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO Marta Benson sold 2,184 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $313.98, for a total value of $685,732.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 48,364 shares in the company, valued at $15,185,328.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 1,145 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.06, for a total transaction of $330,973.70. Following the sale, 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. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 61,145 shares of company stock valued at $18,552,819. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Up 1.7 %

WSM stock traded up $4.63 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $284.56. 1,943,947 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,025,533. The stock has a market cap of $18.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.72. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.44 and a fifty-two week high of $348.51. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $299.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $237.28.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $5.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $5.06 by $0.38. The company had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.22 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 12.25% and a return on equity of 55.15%. The firm's revenue was down 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.50 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 15.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.59%. This is an increase from Williams-Sonoma's previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 18th. Williams-Sonoma's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.02%.

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.