Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) Sees Large Decrease in Short Interest

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,170,000 shares, a decrease of 17.0% from the March 15th total of 1,410,000 shares. Approximately 9.1% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 295,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.0 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BBW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $50.00 target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research note on Friday, March 14th. StockNews.com lowered Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 21st.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Performance

Shares of BBW stock opened at $37.05 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $497.94 million, a P/E ratio of 9.85 and a beta of 1.04. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 52 week low of $23.63 and a 52 week high of $48.23. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $37.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $39.24.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $150.45 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $147.53 million. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 38.35%. Analysts forecast that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 27th were given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 27th. This is a positive change from Build-A-Bear Workshop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.10%.

Insider Activity at Build-A-Bear Workshop

In other news, insider J. Christopher Hurt sold 6,210 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.91, for a total transaction of $247,841.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 43,176 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,723,154.16. The trade was a 12.57 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.08, for a total value of $200,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 70,695 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,833,455.60. This trade represents a 6.61 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 45,714 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $2,105,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 31,861 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,184,000 after buying an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.1% during the 4th quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 1,480 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 2.4% in the first quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 21,133 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $786,000 after acquiring an additional 489 shares during the last quarter. Finally, USA Financial Formulas bought a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. 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.