Principal Financial Group Inc. Raises Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 84.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 1,020,489 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after buying an additional 467,407 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $158,085,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Yeomans Consulting Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $357,000. TFG Advisers LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 3.1% during the second quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 2,746 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $776,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement System increased its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 15.9% in the second quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 18,220 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $5,145,000 after buying an additional 2,500 shares in the last quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the second quarter worth about $5,902,000. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 19.5% during the 2nd quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 814 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

NYSE:WSM opened at $179.59 on Friday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $95.76 and a one year high of $199.41. The stock has a market cap of $22.11 billion, a PE ratio of 21.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.81. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $156.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $149.24.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WSM. Citigroup reduced their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 8th. Wedbush upped their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $140.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $158.78.

Insider Activity

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,228,767.32. This trade represents a 6.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $129,309,848.44. This represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Williams-Sonoma 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.