Deutsche Bank AG Invests $166.62 Million in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. $WSM

Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 714,811 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $166,622,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 51.5% during the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 147 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Ballast Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,000. MidFirst Bank purchased a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 229.4% during the 1st quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 168 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.29% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on WSM shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $261.00 target price (up from $230.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Monday, July 27th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $253.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $192.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Friday, June 12th. They set a “buy” rating and a $250.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $231.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Williams-Sonoma news, EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 1,112 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $228.49, for a total value of $254,080.88. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 21,717 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,962,117.33. The trade was a 4.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total value of $3,000,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 923,524 shares in the company, valued at $184,704,800. This trade represents a 1.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 18,156 shares of company stock valued at $3,738,699. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of WSM opened at $242.34 on Thursday. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $165.51 and a fifty-two week high of $254.89. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $231.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $207.33. The stock has a market cap of $28.54 billion, a PE ratio of 27.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.50.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 21st. The specialty retailer reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.13. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 53.29%. The firm had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.85 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 9.38 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 21st. Investors of record on Friday, July 17th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 17th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Williams-Sonoma’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.04%.

Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

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.