Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Hits New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $47.07 and last traded at $46.82, with a volume of 103214 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.92.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BBW has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Northland Securities boosted their price target on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, DA Davidson increased their price objective on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Up 2.7 %

The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $39.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.38. The stock has a market cap of $633.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.54 and a beta of 1.53.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.03. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a return on equity of 38.40% and a net margin of 10.58%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.53 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.70%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s payout ratio is 21.28%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, September 11th that permits the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the specialty retailer to purchase up to 23.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 12,635 shares of the 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 90,695 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,212,416.90. This trade represents a 12.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lesli Rotenberg sold 2,473 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.10, for a total transaction of $101,640.30. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,724 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $481,856.40. This trade represents a 17.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 94,781 shares of company stock worth $3,414,758 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC raised its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 23.4% in the 2nd quarter. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC now owns 1,229,006 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $31,057,000 after acquiring an additional 232,840 shares during the last quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP grew its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.9% in the third quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP now owns 732,911 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $25,187,000 after purchasing an additional 150,619 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 372,168 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $12,863,000 after purchasing an additional 94,986 shares during the last quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. lifted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 261.3% during the third quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. now owns 105,847 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $3,638,000 after buying an additional 76,551 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 17.2% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 320,832 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $8,107,000 after buying an additional 47,096 shares during the last quarter. 79.30% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.