Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. stock soared 19.8% Wednesday, after the maker of teddy bears and other soft toys blew past estimates for fiscal third-quarter earnings as shoppers returned to stores as pandemic worries eased. The stock was on track for its biggest percentage gain since August 7 of 2015. The St. Louis, Mo.-based company posted net income of $7.5 million, or 51 cents a share, for the quarter to Oct. 29, up from $5.9 million, or 36 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose 9.9% to $1.04.5 million. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of 38 cents and revenue of $102.6 million. Chief Executive Sharon Price John said the company saw momentum and consistency in the business that has continued. “With the strong positive trends continuing in our fourth quarter, we are raising our guidance and believe we are on track to deliver the most profitable year in our 25-year history, building on the 2021 results which set our previous record high,” she said in a statement. Build-A-Bear is now expecting fiscal 2022 revenue of $455 million to $465 million, compared with a FactSet consensus of $458.5 million. The stock has gained 15% in the year to date, outperforming the S&P 500 , which has fallen 17%.
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