Goelzer Investment Management Inc. Trims Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Goelzer Investment Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 33,977 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 772 shares during the quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $6,292,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 675.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 56,488 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $15,950,000 after purchasing an additional 49,207 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 202.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 86,359 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $25,498,000 after purchasing an additional 57,780 shares during the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 60.7% during the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 11,690 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $3,301,000 after acquiring an additional 4,415 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,652,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 57.3% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 266,932 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $75,373,000 after purchasing an additional 97,255 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of WSM opened at $213.91 on Friday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a twelve month low of $95.76 and a twelve month high of $214.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.30, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 1.79. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $185.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $157.25.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s payout ratio is currently 26.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on WSM shares. Loop Capital boosted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $163.16.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total value of $560,552.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $129,309,848.44. The trade was a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 88,160 shares of company stock valued at $15,129,352. 1.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Company 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.