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

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) shares hit 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 changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $45.92.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BBW has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Northland Securities lifted their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of 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, StockNews.com upgraded Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Up 2.7 %

The firm’s fifty day moving average is $39.30 and its 200-day moving average is $32.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $633.70 million, a PE ratio of 12.54 and a beta of 1.53.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.03. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.40%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.53 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 27th. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.28%.

Build-A-Bear Workshop announced that its Board of Directors has authorized 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 shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In related news, CEO Sharon Price John sold 48,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.19, for a total transaction of $1,700,556.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 416,679 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,662,934.01. This represents a 10.39 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Craig Leavitt sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the director now owns 78,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,232,987.12. This trade represents a 3.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 94,781 shares of company stock worth $3,414,758. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 7.4% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 256,979 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $6,494,000 after buying an additional 17,772 shares during the period. De Lisle Partners LLP lifted its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.9% in the third 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. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the third quarter worth approximately $719,000. Maverick Capital Ltd. acquired a new position in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $740,000. Finally, Koss Olinger Consulting LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $504,000. 79.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.