Williams-Sonoma Rises After Naming New CEO; WR Hambrecht Likes Move
WR Hambrecht
called
Williams-Sonoma's
(WSM)
move to appoint Dale Hilpert as chief executive "very positive news for the company."
While the firm said the appointment of Hilpert will help Williams-Sonoma regain credibility with the investment community, Hambrecht doesn't expect immediate results.
The firm held its neutral rating on Williams-Sonoma, saying it was comfortable with its estimate of 75 cents in the fourth quarter, down from the 82 cents in the year-ago period. The company has projected earnings of 75 cents to 80 cents a share. Williams-Sonoma is scheduled to report earnings in mid-March.
"We maintain our current 2001 EPS estimate of $1.25, but we lack confidence in our estimate as we await better visibility," the firm wrote in a research note. "The company is faced with tough year-ago comp sales comparisons in the first half -- 9% and 7.1% for (the first and second quarters of 2001) respectively, which keeps us on the sidelines for the near-term."
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The firm said that while the new chief executive is a "step in the right direction," it has concerns about merchandise issues and will remain cautious on Williams-Sonoma until it receives better guidance from the company.
Shares of Williams-Sonoma gained $2, or 8%, to $26.90 at the end of
New York Stock Exchange
trading.
Yesterday
Venator
(Z)
named Matthew D. Serra president and chief executive to
replace Hilpert, who resigned to join housewares retailer Williams-Sonoma. J. Carter Bacot took over as nonexecutive chairman of Venator.
