Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp

OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp reduced its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM - Free Report) by 25.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,772 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 4,472 shares during the quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp's holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,365,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth about $49,000. Tobam acquired a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $55,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 36,312 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.79, for a total transaction of $6,020,166.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,690,666.52. This represents a 43.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.78, for a total transaction of $4,973,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,018,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $168,826,041.72. The trade was a 2.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 80,635 shares of company stock worth $13,236,175. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

WSM stock traded up $2.35 during trading on Friday, hitting $174.02. 1,393,991 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,058,111. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $125.33 and a 1 year high of $219.98. The company has a market cap of $21.39 billion, a PE ratio of 20.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.57. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $156.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $175.39.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 19th. The specialty retailer reported $3.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.40. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.54% and a return on equity of 51.56%. The business had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $5.44 EPS. The business's revenue was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, May 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 17th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. This is a boost from Williams-Sonoma's previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 17th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. Williams-Sonoma's payout ratio is presently 29.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WSM has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $195.00 to $170.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $153.00 to $168.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $195.00 to $185.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Wedbush dropped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $190.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $175.94.

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.