Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) Coverage Initiated at Melius Research

Equities research analysts at Melius Research began coverage on shares of Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm set a “buy” rating and a $84.00 price target on the pipeline company’s stock. Melius Research’s target price would indicate a potential upside of 18.20% from the company’s previous close.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Williams Companies from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $82.00 target price on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $99.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 18th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams Companies has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $85.94.

Williams Companies Stock Performance

NYSE:WMB opened at $71.07 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.48. Williams Companies has a fifty-two week low of $56.19 and a fifty-two week high of $80.07. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $72.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $73.37. The company has a market capitalization of $86.93 billion, a PE ratio of 28.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.59.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.50. Williams Companies had a net margin of 25.17% and a return on equity of 18.49%. The firm had revenue of $3.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.46 EPS. The company’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. Research analysts anticipate that Williams Companies will post 2.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams Companies

In related news, SVP Terrance Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.56, for a total value of $151,120.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 264,259 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,967,410.04. This trade represents a 0.75% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 19,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,414,050. Corporate insiders own 0.47% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Williams Companies

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Main Street Group LTD bought a new position in shares of Williams Companies in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Williams Companies during the second quarter worth $28,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in Williams Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC lifted its stake in Williams Companies by 62.2% during the 4th quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 485 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Financial Management LLC lifted its stake in Williams Companies by 56.3% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC now owns 386 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. 86.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Williams Companies Company Profile

Williams Companies, Inc is an energy infrastructure company focused primarily on gathering, processing, transporting and storing natural gas and natural gas liquids. The company provides the infrastructure and related services that connect natural gas supplies with utilities, power generators, industrial customers, liquefied natural gas facilities and other markets.

Williams operates a large network of interstate and regional natural gas pipelines, gathering systems, processing facilities and storage assets across the United States.