Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Acquired by Chase Investment Counsel Corp

Chase Investment Counsel Corp increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 16.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 14,000 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $2,592,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of WSM. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 94.6% in the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 7,389 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,145,000 after purchasing an additional 3,592 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 30,883.3% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,859 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $288,000 after acquiring an additional 1,853 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 141.5% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 8,896 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,378,000 after acquiring an additional 5,212 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 109.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 4,702 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $726,000 after acquiring an additional 2,454 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 101.9% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 25,865 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $4,007,000 after acquiring an additional 13,054 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value of $560,552.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total value of $9,349,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at $196,263,808.16. This represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 49,568 shares of company stock worth $10,183,355 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WSM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 8th. Loop Capital upped their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $173.28.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Shares of WSM opened at $194.23 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $23.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.79. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $115.79 and a fifty-two week high of $219.98. The business’s 50-day moving average is $201.46 and its 200-day moving average is $168.00.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 17th were issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 17th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.17%. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is 26.98%.

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.