Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI) Trading 4.2% Higher – Here’s Why

Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI)’s stock price shot up 4.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $21.71 and last traded at $21.5950. 795,930 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 4,755,788 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.73.

More Bath & Body Works News

Here are the key news stories impacting Bath & Body Works this week:

• Neutral Sentiment: Recent commentary on the company’s prior quarterly results and retailer peers provides context on BBWI’s recent fundamentals and operating environment; investors should weigh this alongside the legal developments below. Reflecting on beauty and cosmetics retailer stocks’ Q3 earnings: Bath and Body Works (NYSE:BBWI)
• Negative Sentiment: Lead plaintiff notices and a formal class action complaint have been filed alleging securities fraud tied to BBWI and certain executives; this is the central legal risk that could drive investor concern, potential settlements or litigation costs. Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) Accused of Misleading Investors in Securities Fraud Class Action – BFA Law Notifies Investors that the Court Deadline is March 16
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple plaintiff law firms (Faruqi & Faruqi, Rosen, Kessler Topaz, Levi & Korsinsky, Bernstein Liebhard, etc.) have issued investor alerts and are soliciting lead‑plaintiff motions, with March deadlines — an indication of coordinated litigation interest and likely additional filings or consolidation activity. INVESTOR DEADLINE APPROACHING: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Bath and Body Works
• Negative Sentiment: Notices highlight that the alleged class period covers June 4, 2024–Nov 19, 2025 and refer to a sharp prior share decline (reports cite a ~24% drop). That timeframe and alleged price move are the basis for damage claims and could magnify potential exposure. BBWI LOSS NOTICE: Bath & Body Works, Inc. Plummets 24% Triggering Securities Fraud Class Action

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $20.00 target price on shares of Bath & Body Works in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Telsey Advisory Group lowered shares of Bath & Body Works from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $38.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Friday, November 21st. Barclays raised their target price on Bath & Body Works from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Bath & Body Works in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Bath & Body Works in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. They set a “hold” rating and a $24.00 price objective on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bath & Body Works presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $23.53.

Bath & Body Works Stock Up 4.1%

The company has a market capitalization of $4.42 billion, a PE ratio of 6.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.51. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $20.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $24.84.

Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.40 by ($0.05). Bath & Body Works had a negative return on equity of 47.35% and a net margin of 9.50%.The firm had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.49 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Bath & Body Works has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.870- EPS and its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.700- EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Bath & Body Works, Inc. will post 3.3 EPS for the current year.

Bath & Body Works Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 21st were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. Bath & Body Works’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.62%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Stephen D. Steinour bought 6,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $14.86 per share, with a total value of $99,562.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 48,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $715,880.50. This trade represents a 16.15% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Steven E. Voskuil acquired 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $15.04 per share, for a total transaction of $300,800.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 33,925 shares in the company, valued at approximately $510,232. This trade represents a 143.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders acquired 33,513 shares of company stock valued at $500,442. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Bath & Body Works

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BBWI. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in Bath & Body Works by 92.8% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 59,877 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,815,000 after purchasing an additional 28,815 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bath & Body Works by 15.7% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 645,970 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,586,000 after acquiring an additional 87,529 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in Bath & Body Works by 7.0% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 562,757 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,063,000 after acquiring an additional 36,684 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Bath & Body Works in the 1st quarter valued at $1,155,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in Bath & Body Works by 217.7% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,169 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 801 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.14% of the company’s stock.

Bath & Body Works Company Profile

Bath & Body Works, Inc is a leading specialty retailer focused on personal care, home fragrance and complementary products. Through its flagship Bath & Body Works brand, the company offers a diverse assortment of shower gels, lotions, fragrance mists, candles and home fragrance items. Its product portfolio also includes the White Barn Candle Co range of premium scented candles and diffusers. Bath & Body Works serves consumers through a combination of brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms, delivering seasonal collections, limited-edition releases and signature scent lines.

Founded in 1990 as part of Limited Brands (now L Brands), Bath & Body Works opened its first store in New Albany, Ohio, and quickly expanded across the United States.