Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Hits New 1-Year High – Here’s Why

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) shares hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $38.71 and last traded at $38.53, with a volume of 5506 shares. The stock had previously closed at $38.65.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on BBW. Northland Securities increased their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, August 30th. StockNews.com cut shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $525.28 million, a PE ratio of 11.07 and a beta of 1.55. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $31.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $28.87.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 29th. The specialty retailer reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.07. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 37.81%. The business had revenue of $111.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $107.90 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.57 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 26th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 26th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s payout ratio is 22.92%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Wednesday, September 11th that permits the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 23.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In related news, Director George Carrara sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.27, for a total value of $90,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 18,421 shares in the company, valued at $668,129.67. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 12,635 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.42, for a total transaction of $447,531.70. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 90,695 shares in the company, valued at $3,212,416.90. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director George Carrara sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.27, for a total transaction of $90,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 18,421 shares in the company, valued at approximately $668,129.67. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 130,734 shares of company stock worth $4,510,217. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC increased its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 20,186 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $694,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.4% in the second quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 34,467 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $871,000 after acquiring an additional 469 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.2% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 6,782 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $202,000 after purchasing an additional 1,365 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 12.9% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 14,350 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $363,000 after purchasing an additional 1,636 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 9.7% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 21,970 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $656,000 after purchasing an additional 1,950 shares during the period. 79.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear.