Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”

StockNews.com cut shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Friday.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on BBW. DA Davidson restated a “buy” rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research report on Friday, March 14th. Northland Securities raised their target price on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Performance

BBW opened at $37.39 on Friday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $39.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $38.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $502.47 million, a P/E ratio of 9.94 and a beta of 1.50. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 52-week low of $23.63 and a 52-week high of $48.23.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.52 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $150.45 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $147.53 million. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.35%. Research analysts forecast that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is a boost from Build-A-Bear Workshop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 27th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.35%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.10%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Sharon Price John sold 53,962 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.02, for a total transaction of $2,267,483.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 293,858 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,347,913.16. This trade represents a 15.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider J. Christopher Hurt sold 12,635 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.53, for a total transaction of $499,461.55. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,386 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,952,228.58. This trade represents a 20.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 161,666 shares of company stock valued at $7,010,081. Company insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Build-A-Bear Workshop

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. USA Financial Formulas purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. New York State Teachers Retirement System bought a new position in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 4th quarter valued at $53,000. Quarry LP increased its position in shares of 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. Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.1% during 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 494.7% in 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 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.