Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Buy” Rating

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on BBW. DA Davidson boosted 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. Northland Securities boosted their price objective on shares of 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.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Performance

Shares of BBW opened at $43.10 on Thursday. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a fifty-two week low of $21.24 and a fifty-two week high of $47.01. The company has a market capitalization of $579.26 million, a PE ratio of 11.46 and a beta of 1.53. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $38.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.77.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 period in the previous year, the business posted $0.53 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Insider Transactions at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, Director Craig Leavitt sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.36, for a total transaction of $103,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 78,167 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,232,987.12. The trade was a 3.10 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 48,325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.19, for a total transaction of $1,700,556.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 416,679 shares in the company, valued at $14,662,934.01. The trade was a 10.39 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 94,781 shares of company stock worth $3,414,758. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BBW. Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 705.8% during the 3rd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 1,104 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 967 shares during the period. Quarry LP grew its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 346.6% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,295 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 1,005 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 211.8% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,889 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $124,000 after acquiring an additional 3,321 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 17.6% in the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,812 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $201,000 after acquiring an additional 871 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 209.8% in the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 8,098 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $205,000 after acquiring an additional 5,484 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.30% of the company’s stock.

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.