Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Trading Down 3.4% – What’s Next?

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW)’s share price fell 3.4% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $44.47 and last traded at $44.48. 52,701 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 78% from the average session volume of 240,479 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.04.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have commented on BBW shares. Northland Securities raised their price objective on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. StockNews.com raised Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, DA Davidson upped their target price on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Down 4.2 %

The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $40.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.10. The stock has a market cap of $592.84 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.73 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 the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.03. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.40%. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.53 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.81%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.28%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its board has approved a stock buyback 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 reacquire up to 23.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In related news, Director Craig Leavitt sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.36, for a total value of $103,400.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 78,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,232,987.12. This trade represents a 3.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 17,274 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.05, for a total value of $605,453.70. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 137,078 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,804,583.90. The trade was a 11.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 94,781 shares of company stock worth $3,414,758 in the last quarter. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 322.8% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 24,935 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $857,000 after purchasing an additional 19,038 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the third quarter worth about $282,000. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 31,695 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,089,000 after acquiring an additional 734 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 311.3% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 18,246 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $627,000 after acquiring an additional 13,810 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hohimer Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the third quarter worth $230,000. 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.