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

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) was downgraded by StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

Several other analysts have also commented on the stock. Northland Securities raised 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. DA Davidson reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $50.00 target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research report on Friday, March 14th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Performance

Shares of BBW stock opened at $37.14 on Friday. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a fifty-two week low of $23.63 and a fifty-two week high of $48.23. The firm has a market cap of $499.16 million, a P/E ratio of 9.88 and a beta of 1.50. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $39.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $38.40.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 analysts’ expectations of $147.53 million. As a group, equities analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. De Lisle Partners LLP raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 150,619 shares during the last quarter. Alta Fox Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 4th quarter worth $5,631,000. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 396.5% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 129,801 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $5,976,000 after purchasing an additional 103,656 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 269.9% during the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 137,922 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $6,350,000 after purchasing an additional 100,633 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.3% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 372,168 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $12,863,000 after buying an additional 94,986 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.