Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) Stock Sees Heavy Call Option Buying

Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB) saw unusually large options trading on Friday. Traders acquired 227,655 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 1,865% compared to the average daily volume of 11,587 call options.

Williams Companies Stock Performance

Shares of WMB opened at $72.68 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The firm has a market cap of $88.90 billion, a PE ratio of 28.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.64. Williams Companies has a 12 month low of $56.19 and a 12 month high of $80.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $72.27 and a 200-day moving average price of $73.10.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.50. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 18.49% and a net margin of 25.17%. The firm had revenue of $3.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.46 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Williams Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.350-2.350 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Williams Companies will post 2.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th were paid a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 11th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Williams Companies’s payout ratio is presently 83.67%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams Companies news, SVP Terrance Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.85, for a total transaction of $135,700.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 262,259 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,794,273.15. This trade represents a 0.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 19,000 shares of company stock worth $1,401,430 in the last ninety days. 0.47% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams Companies

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WMB. Main Street Group LTD purchased a new position in Williams Companies in the first quarter worth $26,000. Allied Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 56.3% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 386 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the period. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 59.4% in the 1st quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 416 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. 86.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on WMB. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Williams Companies from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Williams Companies from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Thursday, September 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $85.00 target price for the company. Capital One Financial began coverage on shares of Williams Companies in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $92.00 price target for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.35.

About Williams Companies

Williams Companies, Inc is an energy infrastructure company focused primarily on the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Through its extensive network of pipelines and related facilities, the company connects major U.S. producing regions with utilities, industrial customers, power generators and other energy markets.

Williams’ principal assets include the Transco interstate natural gas pipeline, which serves markets along the U.S. East Coast, as well as gathering and processing operations in regions such as the Appalachian Basin, the Rocky Mountains and the Western United States.