PDT Partners LLC Buys New Shares in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. $WSM

PDT Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 50,818 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $11,846,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 51.5% in the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 147 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 1,381 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Arjuna Capital increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Arjuna Capital now owns 3,564 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $636,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Florida Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Florida Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,534 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $453,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Finally, Valeo Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $242,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 522 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.39, for a total transaction of $128,615.58. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 20,195 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,975,846.05. This trade represents a 2.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,156 shares of company stock worth $738,699. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of WSM stock opened at $234.74 on Wednesday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12-month low of $165.51 and a 12-month high of $254.89. The company has a market capitalization of $27.64 billion, a PE ratio of 26.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.50. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $232.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $208.00.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 17th were paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 17th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on WSM shares. Seaport Research Partners reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Friday, August 14th. Evercore set a $240.00 price target on Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Credit Suisse Group set a $261.00 price target on Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $192.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $261.00 price objective (up from $230.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $234.11.

Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

Williams?Sonoma, Inc is a specialty retailer focused on the home and culinary markets, best known for premium cookware, kitchen tools and home furnishings. The company traces its roots to a single cookware store founded by Chuck Williams in 1956 in Sonoma, California, and has evolved into a multi?brand home furnishings and housewares business. Its merchandise mix spans cookware and kitchen electrics, tabletop and food prep items, furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories designed for both everyday use and higher?end interiors.

The company operates a portfolio of consumer brands that target distinct segments of the home market.