Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Thursday morning.

Several other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. DA Davidson increased their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th. Northland Securities increased their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Up 3.0 %

Shares of BBW opened at $36.42 on Thursday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $40.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.31. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 12 month low of $23.63 and a 12 month high of $48.23. The stock has a market cap of $489.48 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.69 and a beta of 1.50.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.07. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.35%. The firm had revenue of $150.45 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $147.53 million. Equities research analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 27th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 27th. This is a boost from Build-A-Bear Workshop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.28%.

Insider Activity at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In related news, insider J. Christopher Hurt sold 12,635 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.53, for a total transaction of $499,461.55. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,386 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,952,228.58. The trade was a 20.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 68,859 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.06, for a total value of $3,171,645.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 347,820 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,020,589.20. This represents a 16.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 161,666 shares of company stock worth $7,010,081 over the last three months. Company insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. USA Financial Formulas bought a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 346.6% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,295 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 1,005 shares during the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System bought a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.1% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 1,480 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 494.7% in the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,689 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $78,000 after purchasing an additional 1,405 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.30% of the company’s stock.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile

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.