Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) by 15.2% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 35,132 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,643 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $6,506,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. Smithfield Trust Co raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC now owns 236 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. 99.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WSM has been the subject of several analyst reports. Gordon Haskett upgraded Williams-Sonoma to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wedbush restated a “neutral” rating and set a $190.00 price objective (up previously from $175.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $224.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $173.28.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WSM opened at $175.05 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $21.55 billion, a PE ratio of 20.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.82. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $200.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $170.66. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $125.33 and a one year high of $219.98.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 45,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.76, for a total transaction of $9,349,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 944,666 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $196,263,808.16. This trade represents a 4.55 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 1,408 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.32, for a total transaction of $273,602.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,014,116.16. The trade was a 2.95 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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.