Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Stake Raised by Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec

Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 97.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 751,735 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after buying an additional 371,895 shares during the quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec owned about 0.60% of Williams-Sonoma worth $116,459,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. PDT Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the third quarter worth $3,160,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 102.5% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 620,661 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $96,153,000 after purchasing an additional 314,134 shares during the period. Isthmus Partners LLC bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the 3rd quarter valued at about $532,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 70.1% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,104 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $481,000 after buying an additional 1,279 shares during the period. Finally, Hyperion Capital Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hyperion Capital Advisors LP now owns 2,020 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $313,000 after buying an additional 1,010 shares in the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $129,309,848.44. This represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:WSM opened at $172.02 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $21.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.76. The company’s fifty day moving average is $146.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $145.48. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12-month low of $92.55 and a 12-month high of $181.42.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 18th were paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.33%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 18th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Loop Capital increased their price objective 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. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Wedbush boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $154.41.

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.