Northland Securities Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) Stock

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW - Free Report) had its target price raised by Northland Securities from $38.00 to $55.00 in a research report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the specialty retailer's stock.

Separately, StockNews.com raised Build-A-Bear Workshop from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Down 11.8 %

Shares of NYSE:BBW traded down $5.47 during trading on Friday, hitting $41.02. 682,800 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 220,223. The firm has a market cap of $554.59 million, a P/E ratio of 10.90 and a beta of 1.53. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $37.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $31.07. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 1-year low of $21.24 and a 1-year high of $47.01.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW - Get Free Report) last released its 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 net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 37.81%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.53 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.72 EPS for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Wednesday, September 11th that allows the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the specialty retailer to purchase up to 23.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

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 issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. Build-A-Bear Workshop's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In related news, Director George Carrara sold 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.27, for a total value of $90,675.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 18,421 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $668,129.67. The trade was a 11.95 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 48,325 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.19, for a total value of $1,700,556.75. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 416,679 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,662,934.01. This trade represents a 10.39 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 80,734 shares of company stock valued at $2,844,217. Company insiders own 7.90% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BBW. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 23.4% in 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 acquiring an additional 232,840 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,047,261 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $31,282,000 after buying an additional 6,913 shares during the last quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP grew its stake in shares of 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 valued at $25,187,000 after buying an additional 150,619 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.3% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 640,027 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $16,174,000 after buying an additional 2,081 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its position in 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 worth $12,863,000 after acquiring an additional 94,986 shares in the last quarter. 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.