MML Investors Services LLC Makes New Investment in Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW)

MML Investors Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 9,834 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $338,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBW. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 7.4% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 256,979 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $6,494,000 after purchasing an additional 17,772 shares during the last quarter. De Lisle Partners LLP grew its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 25.9% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop during the third quarter worth about $719,000. Maverick Capital Ltd. bought a new position in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the second quarter worth about $740,000. Finally, Koss Olinger Consulting LLC bought a new position in Build-A-Bear Workshop in the second quarter worth about $504,000. 79.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 17,274 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop 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 transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 137,078 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,804,583.90. This trade represents a 11.19 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 48,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.19, for a total value of $1,700,556.75. Following the completion of the sale, 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. Insiders sold 94,781 shares of company stock valued at $3,414,758 over the last 90 days. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Up 4.6 %

NYSE BBW opened at $45.92 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $39.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.28. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has a 52 week low of $21.24 and a 52 week high of $47.01. The stock has a market cap of $617.16 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.21 and a beta of 1.53.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 5th. The specialty retailer reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 last year, the business posted $0.53 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, September 11th that allows the company to repurchase $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 23.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors 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 dividend yield of 1.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 27th. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BBW has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com upgraded Build-A-Bear Workshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. DA Davidson increased their target price on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Northland Securities raised their target price on Build-A-Bear Workshop from $38.00 to $55.00 and gave the company 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.