OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp Takes $2.62 Million Position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. $WSM

OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 11,243 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $2,621,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp boosted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 51.5% during the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 147 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. MidFirst Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Ballast Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 229.4% during the 1st quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 168 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on WSM shares. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $261.00 price target (up from $250.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a report on Monday. Credit Suisse Group set a $261.00 price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a report on Monday. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $248.00 target price (up from $200.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a report on Thursday, August 13th. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $225.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $234.11.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Williams-Sonoma news, EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 522 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.39, for a total transaction of $128,615.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,195 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,975,846.05. This trade represents a 2.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 3,156 shares of company stock valued at $738,699. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Williams-Sonoma stock opened at $234.74 on Wednesday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $165.51 and a fifty-two week high of $254.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.50. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $232.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $208.00.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 21st. Investors of record on Friday, July 17th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.04%.

Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

Williams‑Sonoma, Inc is a specialty retailer focused on the home and culinary markets, best known for premium cookware, kitchen tools and home furnishings. The company traces its roots to a single cookware store founded by Chuck Williams in 1956 in Sonoma, California, and has evolved into a multi‑brand home furnishings and housewares business. Its merchandise mix spans cookware and kitchen electrics, tabletop and food prep items, furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories designed for both everyday use and higher‑end interiors.

The company operates a portfolio of consumer brands that target distinct segments of the home market.