Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Price Target Raised to $55.00

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) had its target price upped by Northland Securities from $38.00 to $55.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the specialty retailer’s stock.

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Price Performance

NYSE BBW opened at $41.02 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $37.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $31.09. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a fifty-two week low of $21.24 and a fifty-two week high of $47.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $554.59 million, a PE ratio of 10.91 and a beta of 1.53.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last released its earnings results 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 37.81% and a net margin of 10.36%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.53 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 27th. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s payout ratio is 21.28%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Wednesday, September 11th that permits the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the specialty retailer to purchase up to 23.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 17,274 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.05, for a total value of $605,453.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 137,078 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,804,583.90. This trade represents a 11.19 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 12,635 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 4th. The stock was 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,212,416.90. This trade represents a 12.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 80,734 shares of company stock valued at $2,844,217 in the last three months. Insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBW. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC boosted its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 23.4% during 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. De Lisle Partners LLP raised its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.9% in the 3rd quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP now owns 732,911 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $25,187,000 after purchasing an additional 150,619 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.3% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 372,168 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $12,863,000 after purchasing an additional 94,986 shares during the period. Maverick Capital Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 261.3% in the 3rd quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. now owns 105,847 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $3,638,000 after purchasing an additional 76,551 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings 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 worth $8,107,000 after purchasing an additional 47,096 shares during the period. 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.