Vanguard Amends WSM Stake: Holds 16.0% of Common Stock

TL;DR

**Vanguard still owns a huge chunk of Williams-Sonoma, holding 16.0% of the stock.**

AI Summary

The Vanguard Group, a major investment firm, filed an amended SC 13G/A on February 13, 2024, indicating its ownership of Williams-Sonoma Inc. common stock as of December 29, 2023. This filing, an amendment number 11, shows that Vanguard holds 0 shares with sole voting power, 10,776,966 shares with shared voting power, 11,624,966 shares with sole dispositive power, and 10,896,966 shares with shared dispositive power. This represents a total beneficial ownership of 11,624,966 shares, or 16.0% of Williams-Sonoma's common stock. This matters to investors because Vanguard is a significant institutional holder, and changes in its stake can signal shifts in institutional confidence or investment strategy for Williams-Sonoma.

Why It Matters

This filing confirms Vanguard's substantial, albeit slightly adjusted, ownership in Williams-Sonoma, indicating continued institutional confidence in the company's long-term prospects. Investors should note that large institutional holdings can provide a degree of stability to a stock.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — This filing is a routine update from a large institutional investor and does not indicate any immediate significant risk or change in company fundamentals.

Analyst Insight

A smart investor would view this as a routine update from a major institutional holder, confirming Vanguard's continued, substantial investment in Williams-Sonoma. It doesn't signal an immediate buy or sell, but rather reinforces the stock's institutional backing. Investors should monitor future filings for significant changes in Vanguard's stake, which could indicate a shift in their long-term outlook.

Key Numbers

• 11,624,966 — Total shares beneficially owned (Represents Vanguard's total stake in Williams-Sonoma Inc.)
• 16.0% — Percentage of class outstanding (Indicates Vanguard's significant influence as a shareholder in Williams-Sonoma Inc.)
• 0 — Sole voting power shares (Vanguard does not have exclusive voting rights over any shares.)
• 10,776,966 — Shared voting power shares (Vanguard shares voting rights over a substantial portion of its holdings.)
• 11,624,966 — Sole dispositive power shares (Vanguard has exclusive control over selling or disposing of these shares.)

Key Players & Entities

• The Vanguard Group (company) — reporting person and institutional investor
• Williams-Sonoma Inc. (company) — subject company whose stock is being reported
• 11,624,966 shares (dollar_amount) — total shares beneficially owned by Vanguard
• 16.0% (dollar_amount) — percentage of Williams-Sonoma's common stock owned by Vanguard
• December 29, 2023 (date) — date of event requiring the filing
• February 13, 2024 (date) — date the SC 13G/A amendment was filed

Forward-Looking Statements

• Vanguard will maintain a significant, stable stake in Williams-Sonoma Inc. for the foreseeable future. (The Vanguard Group) — high confidence, target: December 29, 2024

FAQ

Filing Documents

• tv02286-williamssonomainc.htm (SC 13G/A) — 11KB
• 0001104659-24-022310.txt ( ) — 13KB

(a) - Name of Issuer

Item 1(a) - Name of Issuer: Williams-Sonoma Inc

(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

Item 1(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 3250 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94109-1012

(a) - Name of Person Filing

Item 2(a) - Name of Person Filing: The Vanguard Group - 23-1945930

(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence

Item 2(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355

(c) – Citizenship

Item 2(c) – Citizenship: Pennsylvania

(d) - Title of Class of Securities

Item 2(d) - Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock

(e) - CUSIP Number

Item 2(e) - CUSIP Number 969904101

- Type of Filing

Item 3 - Type of Filing: This statement is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1. An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

- Ownership

Item 4 - Ownership: (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: (b) Percent of Class: (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or direct to vote: (ii) shared power to vote or direct to vote: (iii) sole power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of: (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: Comments: The responses to questions 5 through 9 and 11 on the cover page(s) are incorporated by reference into this Item 4.

- Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Item 5 - Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following

- Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

Item 6 - Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: The Vanguard Group, Inc.'s clients, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein. No one other person's interest in the securities reported herein is more than 5%. Item 7 - Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired The Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company: Not applicable

- Identification and Classification of Members of Group

Item 8 - Identification and Classification of Members of Group: Not applicable

- Notice of Dissolution of Group

Item 9 - Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not applicable

- Certification

Item 10 - Certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 13, 2024 By /s/ Ashley Grim Name: Ashley Grim Title: Head of Global Fund Administration

View Full Filing

View this SC 13G/A filing on SEC EDGAR