HighTower Advisors LLC Takes Position in Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW)

HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW - Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 20,913 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $719,000. HighTower Advisors LLC owned about 0.15% of Build-A-Bear Workshop at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 705.8% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 211.8% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,889 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $124,000 after purchasing an additional 3,321 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 17.6% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,812 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $201,000 after purchasing an additional 871 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 3rd quarter worth about $253,000. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in the 3rd quarter worth about $257,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.30% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 12,635 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction on Friday, October 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.42, for a total value of $447,531.70. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 90,695 shares in the company, valued at $3,212,416.90. The trade was a 12.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 17,274 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.05, for a total transaction of $605,453.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 137,078 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,804,583.90. This trade represents a 11.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 94,781 shares of company stock valued at $3,414,758. Insiders own 7.90% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BBW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Northland Securities boosted their target price on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. StockNews.com raised shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, DA Davidson increased their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, December 6th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE BBW traded down $0.36 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $42.74. The company had a trading volume of 295,170 shares, compared to its average volume of 238,950. The stock has a market cap of $574.43 million, a PE ratio of 11.37 and a beta of 1.53. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has a one year low of $21.24 and a one year high of $47.01. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $38.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $31.84.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 prior year, the company earned $0.53 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 EPS for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, September 11th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the specialty retailer to reacquire up to 23.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.87%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. Build-A-Bear Workshop's payout ratio is 21.28%.

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.