Build-A-Bear Workshop Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
ST. LOUIS--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) today announced results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 ended May 2, 2026.
“Although there were positive highlights for the period, given a more uncertain economic environment, with consumer traffic posing a challenge, our results were lower-than-expected for the quarter. While we are taking steps to address this, our focus remains on executing the strategic initiatives designed to leverage the power of the Build-A-Bear brand as we transition to Chris Hurt’s leadership,” commented Sharon Price John, President and Chief Executive Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Chris Hurt, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Executive Officer-elect of Build-A-Bear Workshop, added, “Looking to the balance of the year, we remain focused on continuing to drive long-term growth by increasing the number of experience locations across the globe, including the back-half grand opening of our new multi-level store in Orlando, and expanding our wholesale business. Even with that, when reflecting on our less-than-expected first quarter direct-to-consumer performance and the overall economic environment, we have chosen to lower our annual revenue guidance, while, notably, still maintaining a range above last year’s record result. Separately, given the tariff refund, we have simultaneously increased our pre-tax outlook.”
Voin Todorovic, Chief Financial Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop, concluded, “Supported by the continued strong profitability and diversification of our business, solid cash flow generation and disciplined capital allocation enabled us to return $46 million to shareholders over the past 12 months through share repurchases and quarterly dividends, including over $14 million in the first quarter.”
First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
(13 weeks ended May 2, 2026, compared to the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2025)
Store Activity
For the quarter, the Company delivered net new unit growth of seven global experience locations, comprised of one corporately-managed location, three partner-operated locations, and three franchise locations. At the end of the quarter, Build-A-Bear had 669 global locations, comprised of 376 corporately-managed locations, 181 partner-operated locations, and 112 franchise locations.
Balance Sheet
At the end of the first quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled $26.2 million, a decrease of $18.1 million, or 40.9%, compared to $44.3 million at the end of the first quarter last year. The Company finished the quarter with no borrowings under its revolving credit facility.
Inventory at quarter end was $77.8 million, an increase of $5.6 million, or 7.7%, mainly driven by tariffs, as well as inventory levels required to support expected increases in sales activity. The Company remains comfortable with the level and composition of its inventory.
For the first quarter, capital expenditures totaled $6.9 million, compared to $2.9 million last year.
Return of Capital to Shareholders
For the first quarter, the Company utilized $11.4 million in cash to repurchase 248,118 shares of common stock and paid shareholders a $2.9 million quarterly cash dividend.
Since the end of the first quarter through May 27, the Company has utilized $3.3 million in cash to repurchase an additional 89,966 shares of its common stock. The Company has $47.0 million remaining under the board-authorized $100.0 million stock repurchase program adopted on September 11, 2024.
2026 Outlook
The Company updates its 2026 outlook, decreasing revenue and revising pre-tax income guidance.
Specifically, for fiscal 2026 the Company now expects:
This updated pre-tax income outlook reflects an approximately $13 million IEEPA tariff refund, partially offset by lower-than-expected operating performance. Excluding the approximately $7 million impact from the tariff refund related to prior fiscal year costs, for fiscal 2026 the Company expects adjusted pre-tax income of $65 million to $71 million. 1
Our outlook also reflects approximately $10 million of ongoing Section 122 tariffs and related costs, assuming the current 10% tariff rate remains in effect for the balance of the year, as well as approximately $3 million in longer-range investments.
In addition, for fiscal 2026, the Company continues to expect:
The Company’s outlook considers various factors, including tariffs, labor costs, changes in freight expense, and ongoing inflationary challenges. Separately, the Company’s outlook does not contemplate any further material changes in the geopolitical environment, macroeconomic conditions, relevant foreign currency exchange rates, or tariffs, including the timing and amount of tariff refund recoveries.
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1 See supplemental schedules for additional information, including the GAAP and Non-GAAP reconciliations.
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 a.m. 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-A-Bear’s Investor Relations website at https://IR.buildabear.com.
The dial-in number for the live conference call is (201) 493-6780 (toll/international) or (877) 407-3982 (toll-free). The access code is Build-A-Bear. The live Internet broadcast may be accessed at https://IR.buildabear.com. The call is expected to conclude by 10:00 a.m. 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 28, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 18, 2026, and can be accessed by calling (412) 317-6671 (toll/international) or (844) 512-2921 (toll-free). The access code is 13759998.
About Build-A-Bear
Founded in 1997, Build‑A‑Bear is a leading global retailtainment brand on a mission to add a little more heart to life. At Build-A-Bear, guests are invited to create personalized furry friends through a unique stuffing, dressing, accessorizing and naming process, accentuated by a memorable "heart ceremony" that creates moments of connection for people of all ages.
Over the years, Build‑A‑Bear has grown into a multi‑generational phenomenon, positioned at the intersection of pop‑culture trends. Beyond its signature retail experience, the brand also offers pre‑stuffed plush, gifting, partnerships with best‑in‑class licensed and collectible characters, and original storytelling through Build‑A‑Bear Entertainment, LLC. Build‑A‑Bear’s current brand platform and message, “The Stuff You Love,” crosses ages and cultures while celebrating nearly 30 years of helping people mark life’s meaningful moments.
Today, Build‑A‑Bear operates more than 650 company-owned, partner-operated, and franchise experience locations across more than 30 countries, complemented by buildabear.com. Build‑A‑Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) reported $529.8 million in total revenues for fiscal 2025, representing the Company's 5th consecutive year of record results. Learn more at the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.
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 captions entitled “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 16, 2026, 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.
2026
2025
113,466
90.6
119,589
93.1
10,948
8.7
7,623
5.9
856
0.7
1,183
1.0
125,270
100.0
128,395
100.0
40,338
35.6
51,571
43.1
4,419
40.4
3,014
39.5
641
74.9
824
69.7
45,398
36.2
55,409
43.2
79,872
63.8
72,986
56.8
56,126
44.8
53,555
41.7
(134
)
(0.1
)
(200
)
(0.2
)
23,880
19.1
19,631
15.3
5,581
4.5
4,312
3.4
18,299
14.6
15,319
11.9
1.45
1.17
1.45
1.17
12,584,388
13,080,301
12,638,710
13,144,243
(1)
2026
2026
2025
$
26,247
$
26,755
$
44,342
77,806
82,203
72,299
31,630
21,459
13,800
12,149
9,603
12,156
147,832
140,020
142,597
$
119,622
121,129
92,699
73,778
70,926
59,260
7,243
7,370
7,667
5,610
6,008
6,080
$
354,085
$
345,453
$
308,303
15,994
$
15,318
$
15,890
33,932
26,104
24,273
28,276
28,651
26,507
14,260
15,289
14,851
4,142
5,264
3,830
96,604
90,626
85,351
97,414
98,647
72,957
1,048
1,152
1,313
126
128
132
59,919
60,821
61,602
(10,939
)
(10,760
)
(11,295
)
109,913
104,839
98,243
159,019
155,028
148,682
$
354,085
$
345,453
$
308,303
2026
2025
$
73,128
$
68,018
64.4
%
56.9
%
$
6,869
$
2,907
$
4,002
$
3,700
334
328
42
41
376
369
112
96
181
148
748,434
733,675
58,166
57,015
806,600
790,690
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
* Non-GAAP Financial Measures
2026
2025
$
23,880
$
19,631
(7,000
)
-
$
16,880
$
19,631
2026
2025
$
18,299
$
15,319
(5,338
)
-
$
12,961
$
15,319
1.45
1.17
1.03
1.17
2026
2025
$
23,880
$
19,631
(134
)
(200
)
4,002
3,700
$
27,748
$
23,131
(7,000
)
-
$
20,748
$
23,131
$
72,000
$
78,000
(7,000
)
(7,000
)
$
65,000
$
71,000
(1)
(2)