Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Shares Up 5.8% – Should You Buy?

Shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) rose 5.8% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $39.27 and last traded at $39.32. Approximately 53,502 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 81% from the average daily volume of 280,747 shares. The stock had previously closed at $37.17.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on BBW. StockNews.com lowered shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Northland Securities increased their price target on 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. Finally, DA Davidson reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $50.00 price objective on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a report on Friday, March 14th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Down 11.8 %

The company’s 50-day moving average is $39.04 and its 200 day moving average is $38.84. The company has a market cap of $484.98 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.60 and a beta of 1.50.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.07. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.35%. The business had revenue of $150.45 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $147.53 million. Analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 27th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 27th. This is a boost from Build-A-Bear Workshop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.44%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s payout ratio is 23.10%.

Insider Transactions at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In other news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.08, for a total value of $200,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 70,695 shares in the company, valued at $2,833,455.60. This trade represents a 6.61 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider J. Christopher Hurt sold 12,635 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.53, for a total value of $499,461.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,386 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,952,228.58. This represents a 20.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 161,666 shares of company stock valued at $7,010,081 in the last three months. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBW. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 346.6% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,295 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005 shares during the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.1% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 1,480 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $68,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 494.7% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,689 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $78,000 after buying an additional 1,405 shares in 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.