The Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) Stock

The Williams Companies Inc. trades at a P/E ratio of 32.31, which is above the market average of approximately 20. This premium valuation suggests investors expect above-average growth or the company has competitive advantages justifying the higher multiple. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 26.95 is lower than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to grow over the next year. The PEG ratio of 2.40 indicates a premium valuation even accounting for growth.

With a beta of 0.67, The Williams Companies Inc. is less volatile than the overall market. This means when the market moves up or down by 10%, this stock typically moves less than 10% in the same direction. Lower beta stocks are often preferred by conservative investors seeking stability. The price-to-book ratio of 6.30 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

The Williams Companies Inc. achieves a profit margin of 21.40%, meaning it retains $21.40 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This is an impressive margin, indicating strong pricing power and efficient cost management that allows the company to generate substantial profits. The operating margin of 34.40% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 17.40% and ROA at 4.27%, the company generates strong returns on invested capital.

The Williams Companies Inc.'s revenue grew by 11.40% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets. Earnings increased by 35.90% year-over-year, outpacing revenue growth through improved margins. These growth metrics should be evaluated against OIL & GAS MIDSTREAM industry averages for proper context.

The Williams Companies Inc. offers a dividend yield of 3.05%, paying $1.95 per share annually. This above-average yield of 2-4% provides meaningful income while still allowing the company to reinvest for growth. It compares favorably to the S&P 500 average and offers competitive returns versus bonds in the current rate environment. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of Sep 12, 2025.

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - The Williams Companies Inc. pays $1.95 per share in dividends against earnings of $1.98 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 98.48%. This very high payout exceeding 90% raises sustainability concerns, as nearly all earnings go to dividends. Any earnings decline could force a dividend cut. The next dividend payment is scheduled for Sep 29, 2025.

The Williams Companies Inc. has a market capitalization of $78.2B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 1.22B shares outstanding, the company's ownership is widely distributed. As a participant in the OIL & GAS MIDSTREAM industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

The Williams Companies Inc.'s book value per share is $10.16, while the current stock price is $57.27, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 5.64. This high P/B ratio indicates significant intangible assets, strong brand value, or high growth expectations. Technology and consumer brand companies often trade at elevated P/B ratios due to intellectual property and competitive advantages not reflected on the balance sheet. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

21 analysts cover WMB with 62% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The mixed views reflect uncertainty about the outlook. The consensus target of $63.84 implies 11.5% upside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

Current analyst recommendations:3 Strong Buy, 10 Buy, 7 Hold, 1 Sell, 0The bullish tilt suggests optimism about future prospects, though investors should conduct independent research.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.