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

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,570,000 shares, an increase of 29.8% from the December 31st total of 1,210,000 shares. Currently, 12.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 287,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.5 days.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stock Down 4.0 %

BBW stock opened at $42.51 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $571.33 million, a P/E ratio of 11.31 and a beta of 1.50. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $42.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $35.80. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 52 week low of $21.60 and a 52 week high of $48.23.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 38.35%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.53 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 27th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.88%. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s payout ratio is presently 21.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, Director Craig Leavitt sold 2,500 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.36, for a total value of $103,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 78,167 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,232,987.12. The trade was a 3.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider J. Christopher Hurt sold 12,635 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.53, for a total transaction of $499,461.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,386 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,952,228.58. The trade was a 20.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 175,713 shares of company stock valued at $7,580,622 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 7.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Build-A-Bear Workshop

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. De Lisle Partners LLP boosted its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.9% during 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. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 640,027 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $16,174,000 after purchasing an additional 2,081 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 34.3% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 372,168 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $12,863,000 after purchasing an additional 94,986 shares during the last quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. boosted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 261.3% in the 3rd quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. now owns 105,847 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $3,638,000 after purchasing an additional 76,551 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC boosted its holdings in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 98,581 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $3,388,000 after purchasing an additional 1,409 shares during the last quarter. 79.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on BBW shares. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note 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, December 19th. Finally, Northland Securities boosted 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.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile

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.