Champlain Investment Partners LLC Takes Position in Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI)

Champlain Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 976,344 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $37,853,000. Champlain Investment Partners LLC owned about 0.45% of Bath & Body Works at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in Bath & Body Works by 43.7% during the 4th quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 77,300 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,997,000 after purchasing an additional 23,500 shares in the last quarter. Farringdon Capital Ltd. bought a new position in Bath & Body Works in the 4th quarter worth approximately $402,000. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Bath & Body Works during the 4th quarter worth about $628,000. Bridgewater Associates LP increased its holdings in Bath & Body Works by 121.1% during the 4th quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 652,002 shares of the company's stock worth $25,278,000 after acquiring an additional 357,175 shares during the period. Finally, Forest Avenue Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Bath & Body Works by 39.3% in the 4th quarter. Forest Avenue Capital Management LP now owns 2,044,191 shares of the company's stock valued at $79,253,000 after acquiring an additional 576,428 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.14% of the company's stock.

Bath & Body Works Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:BBWI traded up $0.14 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $28.89. The stock had a trading volume of 2,235,945 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,743,540. The company has a market capitalization of $6.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.69. Bath & Body Works, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.96 and a fifty-two week high of $52.99. The company's 50-day moving average price is $31.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.85.

Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 27th. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.04 by $0.05. Bath & Body Works had a net margin of 12.43% and a negative return on equity of 44.03%. The firm had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.78 billion. Research analysts expect that Bath & Body Works, Inc. will post 3.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bath & Body Works announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, February 27th that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 6.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Bath & Body Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.77%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. Bath & Body Works's dividend payout ratio is presently 21.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on BBWI shares. Cowen reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Bath & Body Works in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Raymond James decreased their price objective on Bath & Body Works from $46.00 to $37.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Bath & Body Works from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of Bath & Body Works from $49.00 to $42.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Bath & Body Works from $47.00 to $41.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bath & Body Works has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $42.69.

Bath & Body Works Company Profile

Bath & Body Works, Inc is a specialty retailers and home to America's Favorite Fragrances, offering a breadth of exclusive fragrances for the body and home, including the selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap.