Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (BBW)

In the past six months, Build-A-Bear Workshop's stock increased by 35% in 2025 but declined by 36% year-to-date in 2026. Chris Hurt was approved to assume the CEO role in June 2026. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 4.5% to $0.23 per share ($0.92 annualized). Build-A-Bear reported its Q4 and record fiscal year 2025 results in March 2026, with total revenues of $529.8 million for fiscal 2025. A new wholesale partnership with Walmart was announced in March 2026. Tariffs are negatively impacting pretax income, with fiscal 2026 guidance embedding approximately $16 million in tariff-related costs.

Build-A-Bear Workshop's products and services are subject to seasonal shopping patterns. Implied volatility for BBW stock tends to rise most significantly in February and decline to its lowest levels in June. The company focuses on specific periods, such as its "Birthday Blitz" in August. The company's 10-K filing also explicitly mentions seasonal shopping patterns as a factor that can impact its quarterly results.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is a specialty retailer in the hobby, toy, and game stores industry, offering an interactive experience where customers create customized stuffed animals. The company's mission is to add a little more heart to life. Its products include customizable plush items, pre-stuffed plush items, sounds and scents, and accessories. Build-A-Bear operates through Direct-to-Consumer (DTC), Commercial, and International Franchising segments.

As of fiscal year-end 2025, Build-A-Bear Workshop had 662 global locations, including corporately-managed, partner-operated, and franchised stores, spread across more than 30 countries. Corporately-managed locations are in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The company has an international presence in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa. Build-A-Bear also sells products through its e-commerce sites and third-party marketplace sites globally.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has maintained a positive brand reputation, being named to Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group's 2026 list of "America's Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community". The brand's newest communications campaign, "The Stuff You Love," commemorates over a quarter-century of creating cherished memories. Build-A-Bear also celebrated the success of its original animated YouTube series, "KABU," which surpassed half a million views since its debut in February 2026. Historically, Build-A-Bear has also been recognized on Forbes' list of America's Best Employers in 2022 and for ten consecutive years on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is primarily owned by institutional shareholders, with 103.56% institutional ownership, and 233.74% Build-A-Bear Workshop insiders. Major institutional owners include Divisadero Street Capital Management, LP, Pacifica Capital Investments, LLC, BlackRock, Inc., Thrivent Financial For Lutherans, Vanguard Group Inc, De Lisle Partners LLP, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc., American Century Companies Inc, State Street Corp, and Price T Rowe Associates Inc /md/. The largest individual shareholder is Philip C. Timon, who owns 6.88 million shares, representing 53.15% of the company.