Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Raised to Buy at StockNews.com

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

Separately, Northland Securities boosted their target price on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, August 30th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Up 2.4 %

NYSE:BBW traded up $0.91 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $39.04. 195,000 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 228,939. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $33.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.39. The firm has a market cap of $538.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.19 and a beta of 1.55. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a one year low of $21.24 and a one year high of $39.33.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 29th. The specialty retailer reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.07. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 37.81%. The firm had revenue of $111.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $107.90 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.57 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.72 EPS for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, September 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 23.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director George Carrara sold 2,500 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.27, for a total value of $90,675.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 18,421 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $668,129.67. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director George Carrara sold 2,500 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.27, for a total value of $90,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 18,421 shares in the company, valued at $668,129.67. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 12,635 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.42, for a total value of $447,531.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 90,695 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,212,416.90. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 130,734 shares of company stock worth $4,510,217 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Build-A-Bear Workshop

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BBW. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC raised its stake 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 purchasing an additional 232,840 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,047,261 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $31,282,000 after buying an additional 6,913 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.3% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 640,027 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $16,174,000 after acquiring an additional 2,081 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted 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 boosted its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 7.4% during the second 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 currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.