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Thursday’s trading session witnessed KeyBanc analyst Bradley Thomas reiterating a Sector Weight rating on Williams-Sonoma stock (NYSE:WSM), following the company’s announcement of robust fourth-quarter results, which surpassed industry performance. According to InvestingPro data, the company achieved an impressive EBITDA of $1.66 billion and maintains a strong financial health score of 2.75 (GOOD). Thomas highlighted Williams-Sonoma’s strong comparable sales figures and record merchandise margins for the fourth quarter. However, he noted a softer start to the first quarter to date, compared to the previous quarter’s strength.
Williams-Sonoma’s fourth-quarter performance was marked by sales that exceeded expectations and outpaced the industry, according to Thomas. The company’s merchandise margins were particularly strong, marking the best fourth quarter in its history, with a robust gross profit margin of 46.45%. Despite this success, Thomas pointed out that the early trend of the first quarter is not as robust as the fourth quarter’s. InvestingPro analysis shows the company is currently trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth, suggesting potential value opportunity.
For the year 2025, Williams-Sonoma has issued guidance that aligns with consensus estimates but takes into account the effects of recently announced tariffs. Although the tariffs present a challenge to the company’s outlook, Thomas expressed optimism due to Williams-Sonoma’s proactive inclusion of full tariff impacts in their guidance, based on current information.
Looking forward, Thomas believes that Williams-Sonoma is in a favorable position to capture market share and benefit from a continuous recovery in the housing market. Nonetheless, he maintains a cautious stance regarding the sector’s recovery rate and the uncertainty surrounding potential additional tariffs.
In summary, while Williams-Sonoma has demonstrated a strong quarter, KeyBanc’s Thomas maintains a Sector Weight rating, acknowledging both the company’s recent achievements and the challenges posed by tariffs and market uncertainties.
In other recent news, Williams-Sonoma reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, with adjusted earnings per share of $3.28, surpassing analyst estimates of $2.91. Revenue for the quarter reached $2.46 billion, outpacing the consensus forecast of $2.35 billion. However, for the full fiscal year 2024, the company experienced a 1.6% decline in comparable brand revenue, although it achieved a record annual operating margin of 17.9%. Looking ahead to fiscal 2025, Williams-Sonoma anticipates net revenues ranging from -1.5% to +1.5% and comparable sales between flat to 3% growth, with an operating margin forecasted between 17.4% and 17.8%.
In analyst updates, Telsey Advisory Group maintained an Outperform rating on Williams-Sonoma, lowering its price target to $220, citing the company’s robust brand performance. Evercore ISI also adjusted its price target to $180, maintaining an In Line rating, while UBS upgraded its rating from Sell to Neutral, raising the target to $165. Jefferies reduced its price target to $208 but maintained a Buy rating, noting the company’s strategic decision to include tariff costs in its financial guidance for 2025. Despite these mixed reactions from analysts, Williams-Sonoma continues to navigate a challenging retail landscape with a focus on maintaining profitability and growth.
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