National Pension Service Increases Stake in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) $WMB

National Pension Service raised its position in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB) by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,306,019 shares of the pipeline company’s stock after acquiring an additional 89,010 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned approximately 0.27% of Williams Companies worth $245,769,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in WMB. Apella Capital LLC lifted its position in Williams Companies by 2.3% in the second quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 5,988 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $450,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC increased its position in 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. Mirador Capital Partners LP raised its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Mirador Capital Partners LP now owns 16,153 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $1,201,000 after buying an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Aletheian Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Aletheian Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,830 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $285,000 after buying an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,000 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $361,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Terrance Wilson sold 13,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.87, for a total value of $973,310.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 268,159 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,077,064.33. This represents a 4.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders sold 19,000 shares of company stock worth $1,414,050. Insiders own 0.47% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WMB. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Williams Companies from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Williams Companies from $99.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 18th. Scotiabank lowered their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $86.00 to $85.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $84.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $85.67.

Key Williams Companies News

Here are the key news stories impacting Williams Companies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage with a Buy rating and an $85 price target, implying meaningful upside from recent trading levels. Scotiabank also maintained a Sector Outperform rating, although it modestly reduced its target to $85 from $86. Analyst coverage reports
• Positive Sentiment: Growing LNG, natural gas liquids and crude oil export demand is driving a broader wave of midstream mergers and infrastructure investment. This industry backdrop could benefit Williams’ extensive natural gas pipeline and gathering network. Export and power demand drive midstream M&A
• Positive Sentiment: An analysis of Williams’ competitive position highlights the company’s role in serving the Northeast, where rising gas demand and constrained infrastructure may support long-term growth. The Williams Companies: A Tough Competitor Tackles the Northeast
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually heavy put-option activity—17,029 contracts, roughly 54% above typical volume—signals increased hedging or bearish speculation, but options activity alone does not confirm a fundamental change in the business.
• Negative Sentiment: A court ruling reversed a key water permit for the NESE pipeline, creating another regulatory obstacle and potentially delaying or increasing the cost of the project. The setback is particularly important because NESE is intended to expand gas delivery capacity into the Northeast. Williams’ NESE Pipeline Faces New Challenge From Court Ruling
• Negative Sentiment: Williams priced a $2.75 billion, four-tranche senior-notes offering. The financing can support capital needs, but it also increases debt and future interest expense for a company that already carries substantial leverage. Williams Prices $2.75 Billion of Senior Notes

Williams Companies Price Performance

Williams Companies stock opened at $72.93 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.20 billion, a PE ratio of 29.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.59. Williams Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $56.19 and a 52 week high of $80.07. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $73.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $73.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $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. On average, equities research analysts predict that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Friday, September 11th will be given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 11th. Williams Companies’s payout ratio is currently 83.67%.

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.