Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Williams Companies Put Options (NYSE:WMB)

Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB) was the target of some unusual options trading on Monday. Stock investors purchased 36,291 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 146% compared to the typical volume of 14,774 put options.

Williams Companies Stock Up 3.4%

WMB stock traded up $2.17 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $66.25. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,678,214 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,284,768. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.70. Williams Companies has a twelve month low of $58.09 and a twelve month high of $80.07. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $71.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.11, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.62.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 2nd. The pipeline company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.54. Williams Companies had a net margin of 24.99% and a return on equity of 17.02%. The firm had revenue of $3.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.49 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Williams Companies will post 2.39 EPS for the current year.

Williams Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 28th. Investors of record on Friday, December 11th will be given a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 11th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. Williams Companies’s payout ratio is currently 82.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMB has been the topic of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Monday, September 21st. Raymond James Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $85.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Barclays started coverage on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Thursday, October 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $82.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $85.00 to $83.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $89.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $86.33.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Terrance Wilson sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.87, for a total transaction of $973,310.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 268,159 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,077,064.33. This represents a 4.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In the last three months, insiders sold 19,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,408,470. 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Main Street Group LTD acquired a new stake in shares of Williams Companies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Williams Companies in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new position in Williams Companies during the second quarter worth $28,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC increased its holdings in Williams Companies by 56.3% during the second quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 386 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Finally, James T. Borello RIA acquired a new position in Williams Companies during the third quarter worth $27,000. 86.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Williams Companies

Williams Companies is an energy infrastructure company focused primarily on gathering, processing, transporting and storing natural gas. Its systems connect natural gas-producing regions with utilities, power generators, industrial customers and other energy markets.

The company operates pipelines and related facilities across the United States. Its Transco pipeline system carries natural gas from the Gulf Coast and other supply areas to customers along the East Coast, while its gathering and processing operations serve producers in regions including the Northeast, the West and the Gulf Coast.

Williams traces its roots to 1908, when brothers Miller and David Williams established a construction business that later expanded into energy infrastructure.