Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Reaches New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

Shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $47.07 and last traded at $46.82, with a volume of 103214 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $45.92.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on BBW shares. StockNews.com raised Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. DA Davidson increased their price target on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Northland Securities lifted their price objective on shares of 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 Trading Down 2.6 %

The stock has a market cap of $627.24 million, a P/E ratio of 12.41 and a beta of 1.53. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $39.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.62.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 in the previous year, the company earned $0.53 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.71%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.28%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan 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 stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Craig Leavitt sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.36, for a total transaction of $103,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 78,167 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,232,987.12. This represents a 3.10 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 48,325 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.19, for a total value of $1,700,556.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 416,679 shares in the company, valued at $14,662,934.01. This represents a 10.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 94,781 shares of company stock valued at $3,414,758 in the last three months. Company insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 705.8% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 1,104 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 967 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 346.6% in 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 period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 211.8% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,889 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $124,000 after buying an additional 3,321 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 17.6% during the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,812 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $201,000 after buying an additional 871 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 209.8% during the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 8,098 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $205,000 after buying an additional 5,484 shares during the period. 79.30% of the stock is owned by 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.