Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Shares Sold by Swiss National Bank

Swiss National Bank reduced its holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 356,800 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 25,000 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank owned about 0.29% of Williams-Sonoma worth $66,072,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 32.9% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 6,112 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $947,000 after purchasing an additional 1,513 shares in the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc lifted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 239.1% in the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 2,560 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $397,000 after purchasing an additional 1,805 shares during the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 69.8% in the third quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 1,936 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $300,000 after buying an additional 796 shares during the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $826,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 110.5% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 244,846 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $37,932,000 after buying an additional 128,523 shares during the period. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the firm’s 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 944,666 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $196,263,808.16. This trade represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $273,602.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,014,116.16. The trade was a 2.95 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 1.3 %

WSM stock opened at $167.22 on Friday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $125.33 and a one year high of $219.98. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $199.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $171.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.58 billion, a PE ratio of 19.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on WSM. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Gordon Haskett upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $190.00 target price (up from $175.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $173.78.

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.