Insider Selling: Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) EVP Sells $436,374.83 in Stock

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 2,267 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.49, for a total value of $436,374.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,351 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,494,833.99. The trade was a 8.85% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Karalyn Yearout also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Wednesday, January 14th, Karalyn Yearout sold 767 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $205.16, for a total value of $157,357.72.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of WSM opened at $189.20 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $195.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $193.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.52 billion, a PE ratio of 21.38, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.58. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $134.44 and a 1 year high of $222.00.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 18th. The specialty retailer reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.90 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.41 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 51.45% and a net margin of 13.94%.The business’s quarterly revenue was down 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.28 EPS. Analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 8.36 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 17th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 17th. This is a boost from Williams-Sonoma’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.83%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WSM. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $220.00 target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. UBS Group raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 11th. Weiss Ratings raised Williams-Sonoma from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $235.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $206.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Williams-Sonoma currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $209.56.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WSM. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 15.3% during the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 6,469 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,155,000 after buying an additional 860 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 21.0% during the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 2,257 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $403,000 after buying an additional 391 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 13.2% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 132,471 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $23,668,000 after buying an additional 15,452 shares during the period. Strategic Advisory Partners LLC acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth approximately $209,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth approximately $70,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

About Williams-Sonoma

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.