WMB Traders Note Volume Surges to $320M Ranking 340th in Market Activity as Institutional Bets Split AlphaQuest Cuts Stake 89.5% Others Boost Holdings While Insider Sales and Earnings Miss Weigh on Momentum

On September 4, 2025, The Williams Companies (WMB) traded with a volume of $320 million, ranking 340th in market activity. The stock closed down 0.26%, reflecting mixed institutional activity and recent earnings performance.

Recent filings revealed significant shifts in institutional ownership. AlphaQuest LLC reduced its stake by 89.5% to 1,573 shares, while Brighton Jones LLC and Aptus Capital Advisors LLC increased holdings by 40.9% and 112.8%, respectively. Baird Financial Group Inc. also boosted its position by 1.8% in the prior quarter. These moves highlight divergent strategies among investors amid fluctuating market conditions.

Insider sales further impacted sentiment, with SVP Terrance Lane Wilson and COO Larry C. Larsen offloading shares totaling $507,875. Analyst ratings remain cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" consensus and an average price target of $62.86. However, recent earnings missed estimates by $0.03 per share, raising concerns about short-term momentum.

Technical indicators showed mixed signals: the MACD histogram turned positive on August 28, but the stock remains below its 50-day moving average. Institutional ownership now stands at 86.44%, with hedge funds like Panagora Asset Management and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec recently acquiring or increasing stakes.

Backtest results indicate that the stock's 200-day moving average remains stable at $58.39, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.65. The company’s FY 2025 earnings guidance of $2.01–$2.19 per share aligns with analyst forecasts, though revenue growth of 19% year-over-year may not offset margin pressures.