Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”

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

Separately, Northland Securities lifted 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 report on Friday, August 30th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Down 2.2 %

BBW stock traded down $0.81 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $36.80. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 262,615 shares, compared to its average volume of 228,833. The company has a market capitalization of $497.46 million, a PE ratio of 10.34 and a beta of 1.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $34.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.81. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 12 month low of $21.24 and a 12 month high of $40.13.

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

Build-A-Bear Workshop announced that its board has authorized a share 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 repurchase up to 23.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 26th were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 26th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio is 22.47%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Sharon Price John sold 50,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total transaction of $1,666,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 465,004 shares in the company, valued at $15,493,933.28. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Sharon Price John sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total transaction of $1,666,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 465,004 shares in the company, valued at $15,493,933.28. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director George Carrara sold 2,500 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.27, for a total transaction of $90,675.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 18,421 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $668,129.67. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 130,734 shares of company stock worth $4,510,217. Company insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC boosted its position 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 buying an additional 232,840 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.7% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,047,261 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $31,282,000 after purchasing an additional 6,913 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 640,027 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $16,174,000 after purchasing an additional 2,081 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 17.2% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 320,832 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $8,107,000 after purchasing an additional 47,096 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 256,979 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $6,494,000 after buying an additional 17,772 shares during the period. 79.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.