Insider Selling: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) CAO Sells 9,074 Shares of Stock

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 9,074 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.28, for a total transaction of $365,500.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 128,004 shares in the company, valued at $5,156,001.12. This trade represents a 6.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Up 1.9 %

BBW traded up $0.79 on Tuesday, hitting $41.34. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 292,336 shares, compared to its average volume of 236,213. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has a 12 month low of $21.24 and a 12 month high of $47.01. The firm has a market cap of $558.83 million, a P/E ratio of 11.03 and a beta of 1.54. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $37.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $31.17.

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, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 last year, the company earned $0.53 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.28%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. DA Davidson increased their price objective on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. 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 note on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com raised Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBW. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC raised its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 20,186 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $694,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.9% in the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,397 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $770,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares during the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.4% in the second quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 34,467 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $871,000 after purchasing an additional 469 shares in the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 2.4% during the third quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 31,695 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 23,483 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $807,000 after buying an additional 754 shares in the last quarter. 79.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.