Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) Earns Outperform Rating from Telsey Advisory Group

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM)‘s stock had its “outperform” rating reissued by Telsey Advisory Group in a research note issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $230.00 target price on the specialty retailer’s stock. Telsey Advisory Group’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 37.55% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on WSM. Barclays raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $123.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Gordon Haskett upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $190.00 target price (up from $175.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $176.28.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

NYSE:WSM opened at $167.22 on Monday. Williams-Sonoma has a one year low of $125.33 and a one year high of $219.98. The company has a market cap of $20.58 billion, a PE ratio of 19.78, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $199.93 and a 200-day moving average of $171.36.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In other news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total value of $273,602.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,014,116.16. This trade represents a 2.95 % 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 the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of the company’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 transaction of $9,349,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 944,666 shares in the company, valued at $196,263,808.16. This trade represents a 4.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. PKO Investment Management Joint Stock Co purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the fourth quarter worth about $1,111,000. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 6.4% during the fourth quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 1,396 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the 4th quarter worth approximately $86,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 4th quarter worth $13,707,000. Finally, Virtue Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. Virtue Capital Management LLC now owns 7,014 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,299,000 after buying an additional 386 shares in the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.