Build-A-Bear Workshop Reports Record-Breaking First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results
-
Total revenues were a first-quarter record
$128.4 million 11.9% , pre-tax income was a first-quarter record$19.6 million 30.6% , and diluted earnings per share was a first-quarter record$1.17 42.7% -
For the first quarter of 2025, the Company returned
$7.1 million $44.3 million - The Company reiterates its 2025 revenue guidance and updates its pre-tax income guidance
“We had a solid start to 2025 with record first-quarter revenues and EPS, highlighting the strength and appeal of the Build-A-Bear brand, as well as the progress we are making in evolving our business model,” commented Sharon Price John, President and Chief Executive Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop. “While we are pleased to see our positive momentum continue into the second quarter, looking forward, we are also working toward successfully managing through this dynamic environment, while balancing our long-term strategic initiatives, particularly related to broadening our global retail footprint,” concluded Ms. John.
Voin Todorovic, Chief Financial Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop, added, “I'm pleased to share that Build-A-Bear posted double-digit revenue growth with continued mid-teens pre-tax margins. Our ongoing strong revenue performance and disciplined expense management have allowed us to continue to return significant capital to shareholders."
First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results
(13 weeks ended May 3, 2025, compared to the 13 weeks ended May 4, 2024)
-
Total revenues were
$128.4 million 11.9% -
Net retail sales were
$119.6 million 10.9% -
Consolidated e-commerce demand (online orders fulfilled from either the Company’s warehouses or its stores) increased
0.5% -
Commercial and international franchise revenues were a combined
$8.8 million 28.3%
-
Net retail sales were
-
Pre-tax income grew
30.6% year over year to$19.6 million 15.3% of total revenues. This was an increase of 220 basis points, driven by a 260-basis-point improvement in gross margin, partially offset by a 20-basis-point increase in selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”), mainly from higher store-level wages and general inflationary pressures, and a decline in interest income. -
Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was
$1.17 42.7% , reflecting higher pre-tax income, a reduced share count, and a lower tax rate. -
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) was
$23.1 million 26.7% , representing18.0% of total revenues.
Store Activity
For the quarter, the Company had net new unit growth of 15 global experience locations, comprised of 1 corporately-managed location, 10 partner-operated locations, and 4 franchise locations. At the end of the quarter, Build-A-Bear had 604 global locations, comprised of 369 corporately-managed locations, 148 partner-operated locations, and 87 franchise locations.
Balance Sheet
At the end of the first quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled
Inventory at quarter end was
For the first quarter, capital expenditures totaled
Return of Capital to Shareholders
For the first quarter, the Company utilized
2025 Outlook
The Company reiterates its 2025 revenue guidance and updates its pre-tax income guidance, inclusive of current tariff rates. Specifically, the Company:
- Continues to expect total revenues to grow on a mid-single-digit percentage basis
-
Now expects pre-tax income in the range of
$61 million $67 million
In addition, for fiscal 2025, the Company:
- Continues to expect net new unit growth of at least 50 experience locations through a combination of corporately-managed, partner-operated, and franchised business models
-
Continues to expect capital expenditures in the range of
$20 million $25 million -
Continues to expect depreciation and amortization to approximate
$16 million -
Now expects the tax rate in the range of
22% to24% , excluding discrete items
The Company’s guidance considers various factors, including the current tariff rates, medical and labor cost pressures, increased freight costs, and ongoing inflationary challenges. Additionally, the Company’s outlook does not contemplate any further material changes in tariffs, the macroeconomic or geopolitical environment, or relevant foreign currency exchange rates.
Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this press release, the Company’s financial results are provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and using certain non-GAAP financial measures. In particular, the Company provides historic income adjusted to exclude certain costs, which are non-GAAP financial measures. These results are included as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP because management believes these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in the Company’s business and provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of the Company’s core operating results. These measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. These non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure later in this document.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
Today, at 9:00 AM ET, Build-A-Bear Workshop will host a conference call with investors and financial analysts to discuss its financial results. The call will be webcast on Build-Bear’s Investor Relations website, https://ir.buildabear.com.
The dial-in number for the live conference call is (877) 407-3982 or (201) 493-6780 for international callers. The access code is Build-A-Bear. The call is expected to conclude by 10 AM ET.
A replay of the conference call webcast will be available on the investor relations website for one year. A telephone replay will be available from approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 29, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The telephone replay is available by calling (412) 317-6671 (toll/international) or (844) 512-2921 (toll-free). The access code is 13753263.
About Build-A-Bear
Since its beginning in 1997, Build-A-Bear has evolved to become a beloved multi-generational brand focused on its mission to “add a little more heart to life,” where guests of all ages make their own “furry friends” in celebration and commemoration of life moments. Guests create their own stuffed animals by participating in the stuffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming of their own teddy bears and other plush toys based on the Company’s own intellectual property and in conjunction with a variety of best-in-class licenses. The hands-on and interactive nature of our more than 600 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise experience locations around the world, combined with Build-A-Bear’s pop-culture appeal, often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection with consumers and has enabled the Company to expand beyond its retail stores to include e-commerce sales on www.buildabear.com and non-plush branded consumer categories via out-bound licensing agreements with leading manufacturers, as well as the creation of engaging content via Build-A-Bear Entertainment (a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.). The brand’s newest communications campaign, "The Stuff You Love," commemorates more than a quarter-century of creating cherished memories worldwide. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted consolidated total revenues of
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that are, or may be considered to be, “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. We generally identify these statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “future,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative or any derivative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All the information concerning our future liquidity, future revenues, margins and other future financial performance and results, achievement of operating of financial plans or forecasts for future periods, sources and availability of credit and liquidity, future cash flows and cash needs, success and results of strategic initiatives and other future financial performance or financial position, as well as our assumptions underlying such information, constitute forward-looking information.
These statements are based only on our current expectations and projections about future events. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under the caption entitled “Risks Related to Our Business” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 18, 2025, and other periodic reports filed with the SEC which are incorporated herein.
All our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this Press Release only. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking information. We can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk factors or other risks and uncertainties referred to in this Press Release or included in our other public disclosures or our other periodic reports or other documents or filings filed with or furnished to the SEC could materially and adversely affect our continuing operations and our future financial results, cash flows, available credit, prospects, and liquidity. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
| BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||
| Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||||
| 13 Weeks | 13 Weeks | |||||||||
| Ended | Ended | |||||||||
| May 3, | % of Total | May 4, | % of Total | |||||||
2025 |
Revenues (1) | 2024 |
Revenues (1) | |||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||
| Net retail sales | $ | 119,589 |
|
93.1 |
$ | 107,868 |
|
94.0 |
||
| Commercial revenue | 7,623 |
|
5.9 |
5,985 |
|
5.2 |
||||
| International franchising | 1,183 |
|
1.0 |
877 |
|
0.7 |
||||
| Total revenues | 128,395 |
|
100.0 |
114,730 |
|
99.9 |
||||
| Cost of merchandise sold: |
|
|
||||||||
| Cost of merchandise sold - retail (1) | 51,571 |
|
43.1 |
49,415 |
|
45.8 |
||||
| Cost of merchandise sold - commercial (1) | 3,014 |
|
39.5 |
2,533 |
|
42.3 |
||||
| Cost of merchandise sold - international franchising (1) | 824 |
|
69.7 |
617 |
|
70.4 |
||||
| Total cost of merchandise sold | 55,409 |
|
43.2 |
52,565 |
|
45.8 |
||||
| Consolidated gross profit | 72,986 |
|
56.8 |
62,165 |
|
54.2 |
||||
|
|
|||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expense | 53,555 |
|
41.7 |
47,562 |
|
41.5 |
||||
| Interest (income) expense, net | (200 |
) |
(0.2) |
(426 |
) |
(0.4) |
||||
| Income before income taxes | 19,631 |
|
15.3 |
15,029 |
|
13.1 |
||||
| Income tax expense | 4,312 |
|
3.4 |
3,570 |
|
3.1 |
||||
| Net income | $ | 15,319 |
|
11.9 |
$ | 11,459 |
|
10.0 |
||
| Income per common share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.17 |
|
$ | 0.82 |
|
||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.17 |
|
$ | 0.82 |
|
||||
| Shares used in computing common per share amounts: | ||||||||||
| Basic | 13,080,301 |
|
13,925,957 |
|
||||||
| Diluted | 13,144,243 |
|
14,006,400 |
|
||||||
(1) |
Selected statement of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except cost of merchandise sold - retail, cost of merchandise sold - commercial and cost of merchandise sold - international franchising that are expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue and international franchising, respectively. Percentages will not total due to cost of merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue or international franchising and immaterial rounding. | ||||||||||||||
| BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||
| Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||
| May 3, | February 1, | May 4, | ||||||||
|
2025 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
| ASSETS | ||||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ |
44,342 |
|
$ |
27,758 |
|
$ |
38,233 |
|
|
| Inventories, net |
|
72,299 |
|
|
69,775 |
|
|
64,024 |
|
|
| Receivables, net |
|
13,800 |
|
|
16,096 |
|
|
9,547 |
|
|
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
12,156 |
|
|
12,669 |
|
|
12,046 |
|
|
| Total current assets |
|
142,597 |
|
|
126,298 |
|
|
123,850 |
|
|
| Operating lease right-of-use asset |
|
92,699 |
|
|
90,200 |
|
|
72,783 |
|
|
| Property and equipment, net |
|
59,260 |
|
|
59,761 |
|
|
53,897 |
|
|
| Deferred tax assets |
|
7,667 |
|
|
7,596 |
|
|
8,672 |
|
|
| Other assets, net |
|
6,080 |
|
|
6,101 |
|
|
6,074 |
|
|
| Total Assets | $ |
308,303 |
|
$ |
289,956 |
|
$ |
265,276 |
|
|
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ |
15,890 |
|
$ |
16,538 |
|
$ |
14,793 |
|
|
| Accrued expenses |
|
24,273 |
|
|
16,209 |
|
|
19,552 |
|
|
| Operating lease liability short term |
|
26,507 |
|
|
26,841 |
|
|
24,276 |
|
|
| Gift cards and customer deposits |
|
14,851 |
|
|
15,791 |
|
|
16,620 |
|
|
| Deferred revenue and other |
|
3,830 |
|
|
4,015 |
|
|
3,432 |
|
|
| Total current liabilities |
|
85,351 |
|
|
79,394 |
|
|
78,673 |
|
|
| Operating lease liability long term |
|
72,957 |
|
|
70,155 |
|
|
56,906 |
|
|
| Other long-term liabilities |
|
1,313 |
|
|
1,325 |
|
|
1,356 |
|
|
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||||
| Common stock, par value |
|
132 |
|
|
133 |
|
|
139 |
|
|
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
61,602 |
|
|
61,987 |
|
|
64,065 |
|
|
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(11,295 |
) |
|
(12,554 |
) |
|
(12,153 |
) |
|
| Retained earnings |
|
98,243 |
|
|
89,516 |
|
|
76,290 |
|
|
| Total stockholders' equity |
|
148,682 |
|
|
139,082 |
|
|
128,341 |
|
|
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ |
308,303 |
|
$ |
289,956 |
|
$ |
265,276 |
|
|
| BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| Unaudited Selected Financial and Store Data | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| 13 Weeks | 13 Weeks | |||||||
| Ended | Ended | |||||||
| May 3, | May 4, | |||||||
2025 |
2024 |
|||||||
| Other financial data: | ||||||||
| Retail gross margin ($) (1) | $ | 68,018 |
|
$ | 58,453 |
|
||
| Retail gross margin (%) (1) | 56.9 |
% |
54.2 |
% |
||||
| Capital expenditures (2) | $ | 2,907 |
|
$ | 2,430 |
|
||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ | 3,700 |
|
$ | 3,658 |
|
||
| Store data (3): | ||||||||
| Number of corporately-managed retail locations at end of period | ||||||||
328 |
|
317 |
|
|||||
41 |
|
40 |
|
|||||
| Total corporately-managed retail locations | 369 |
|
357 |
|
||||
| Number of franchised stores at end of period | 87 |
|
77 |
|
||||
| Number of third-party retail locations at end of period | 148 |
|
97 |
|
||||
| Corporately-managed store square footage at end of period (4) | ||||||||
733,675 |
|
729,336 |
|
|||||
57,015 |
|
55,535 |
|
|||||
| Total square footage | 790,690 |
|
784,871 |
|
||||
(1) |
Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of merchandise sold - retail. Retail gross margin percentage represents retail gross margin divided by net retail sales. Store impairment is excluded from retail gross margin. | |||||||
(2) |
Capital expenditures represents cash paid for property, equipment, and other assets. | |||||||
(3) |
Excludes e-commerce. North American stores are located in |
|||||||
(4) |
Square footage for stores located in |
|||||||
| * Non-GAAP Financial Measures | ||||||||
| BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP figures | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| 13 Weeks | 13 Weeks | |||||||
| Ended | Ended | |||||||
| May 3, | May 4, | |||||||
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|||
| Income before income taxes (pre-tax) | $ |
19,631 |
|
$ |
15,029 |
|
||
| Interest (income) expense, net |
|
(200 |
) |
|
(426 |
) |
||
| Depreciation and amortization expense |
|
3,700 |
|
|
3,658 |
|
||
| Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) | $ |
23,131 |
|
$ |
18,261 |
|
||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250529683391/en/
Investor Relations Contact
Gary Schnierow, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Finance
garys@buildabear.com
Media Relations Contact
pr@buildabear.com
Source: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
