Entropy Technologies LP Invests $883,000 in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 5,700 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $883,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 97.4% in the third quarter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,024 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $468,000 after acquiring an additional 1,492 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 56.3% in the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,888 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,067,000 after purchasing an additional 2,481 shares during the last quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 92.9% in the 3rd quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 16,596 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $2,571,000 after purchasing an additional 7,992 shares in the last quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 101.0% during the 3rd quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN now owns 5,040 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $781,000 after purchasing an additional 2,533 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 104.1% in the third quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 47,065 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $7,291,000 after buying an additional 24,009 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WSM has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $232.00 to $116.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised Williams-Sonoma from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $148.00 to $156.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $158.00 to $145.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 19th. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $155.00 to $135.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $139.47.

Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 11,100 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.66, for a total transaction of $1,494,726.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 15,150 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,040,099. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 11,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.66, for a total transaction of $1,494,726.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 15,150 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,040,099. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.27, for a total value of $5,810,800.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,030,956 shares in the company, valued at $149,766,978.12. This trade represents a 0.00 % 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 Price Performance

Shares of WSM stock opened at $129.54 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $16.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.60, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.76. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $76.19 and a 1 year high of $174.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $141.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $144.79.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 22nd. The specialty retailer reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 51.57% and a net margin of 14.29%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.56 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 7.99 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 18th will be given a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 18th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. Williams-Sonoma’s payout ratio is currently 27.39%.

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.