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

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

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Northland Securities lifted 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 research report on Friday, December 6th. DA Davidson raised their price target on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Price Performance

Build-A-Bear Workshop stock opened at $43.78 on Thursday. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a one year low of $21.24 and a one year high of $47.01. The business’s fifty day moving average is $38.61 and its 200 day moving average is $31.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $588.40 million, a PE ratio of 11.64 and a beta of 1.53.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) 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 quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.53 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, September 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 23.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In other news, Director Craig Leavitt sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.36, for a total transaction of $103,400.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 78,167 shares in the company, valued at $3,232,987.12. This trade represents a 3.10 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 17,274 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction on Monday, October 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.05, for a total transaction of $605,453.70. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 137,078 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,804,583.90. This trade represents a 11.19 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 94,781 shares of company stock worth $3,414,758. Corporate insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the third quarter worth about $282,000. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in 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 worth $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares during the period. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 311.3% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 18,246 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $627,000 after acquiring an additional 13,810 shares during the last quarter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the third quarter worth $230,000. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC bought a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 3rd quarter valued at about $338,000. 79.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.