Williams-Sonoma, Inc. $WSM Shares Bought by Aberdeen Group plc

Aberdeen Group plc increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 9.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 133,348 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,452 shares during the quarter. Aberdeen Group plc owned about 0.11% of Williams-Sonoma worth $23,815,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Dorato Capital Management bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter valued at $93,000. Abacus Planning Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 1,977 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $353,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 22.0% during the fourth quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 4,614 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $824,000 after purchasing an additional 832 shares during the period. Archford Capital Strategies LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Archford Capital Strategies LLC now owns 5,534 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $988,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 6.0% during the fourth quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 48,959 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $8,744,000 after purchasing an additional 2,759 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

NYSE WSM opened at $180.21 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $197.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $193.47. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $130.07 and a fifty-two week high of $222.00. The firm has a market cap of $21.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.58.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 18th. The specialty retailer reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.90 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $2.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.41 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 13.94% and a return on equity of 51.45%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.28 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. This is a boost from Williams-Sonoma’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.83%.

Key Williams-Sonoma News

Here are the key news stories impacting Williams-Sonoma this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple forward-quarter and full‑year earnings estimates (FY2027, FY2028 and FY2029) and lifted several quarterly EPS forecasts, signaling stronger expected profitability and supporting a higher earnings trajectory for WSM. This upgrade cycle is a primary bullish catalyst for the stock. Zacks estimate revisions (summary)
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks’ new long‑range FY2028 ($10.25) and FY2029 ($11.42) EPS projections provide a clearer multi‑year growth view; these raise expectations but also increase dependence on execution against elevated targets. (This item mainly adjusts valuation models rather than creating an immediate directional shock.)
• Negative Sentiment: Some near‑term quarter estimates were trimmed (small cuts to Q1 and Q2 FY2027 EPS), indicating limited short‑term demand/seasonality concerns that could weigh on next quarter’s results if trends persist.
• Negative Sentiment: A Yahoo Finance feature questions whether WSM remains attractively valued after multi‑year share‑price gains — a story investor readers often interpret as a reminder of stretched valuation and profit‑taking risk. That narrative can amplify selling pressure if investors focus on rich multiples and the stock’s run. Is Williams Sonoma (WSM) Still Attractive After Strong Multi Year Share Price Gains

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 32,684 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.64, for a total value of $5,904,037.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 34,138 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,166,688.32. This represents a 48.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 20,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.04, for a total value of $3,660,800.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 786,537 shares in the company, valued at approximately $143,967,732.48. This trade represents a 2.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 88,451 shares of company stock valued at $16,980,845. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WSM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $220.00 price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $235.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. Zelman & Associates raised Williams-Sonoma from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $205.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $188.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $209.56.

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.