Stock to Watch: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY)

[Motley Fool] Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) beat out analysts' expectations, but the bounce wasn't enough to drag the company out of its first half funk. The stock is still down 18% since the beginning of the year. Obviously that's something that Bed Bath & Beyond wants to change, and the company's management team made its plans clear on the most recent conference call.Stock PerformanceTaking a look at the company’s recent performance, Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) reported Second quarter earnings for fiscal 2014 on September 23^rd. The company reported actual earnings per share of $1.17 against the consensus Street estimate of $1.14. This represents year over year growth of 0.85%. Bed Bath & Beyond posted revenue of $2.95 billion. Bed Bath & Beyond is currently valued at $11.53 billion and closed the last trading session at $63.48. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $64.40 and a 200-day moving average of $63.05.

Is this a Buying Opportunity?There are currently seventeen analysts that we track that cover the stock. Of those seventeen, five have a Buy rating, eight have a Hold rating and four have a Sell rating. On a consensus basis this yields a score of 2.17 and a Hold. The combined price objective of these covering analysts is $68.37, which represents a 3.86% upside difference to the last closing price. The most recent analyst activity consisted of Credit SuisseInitiated Coverage with Neutral stance on the company. Credit Suisse has a price target of $70.Another research firm weighing in recently was Williams Capital who also reiterated their rating on the stock. On September 26^th Williams Capital boosted their price target on the stock from $78 to $87. On the day of the report, BBBY shares closed at $66.70.Company ProfileBed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) together with its subsidiaries, operates a chain of retail stores. It sells a range of domestic merchandise, including bed linens and related items, bath items, and kitchen textiles; and home furnishings, such as kitchen and tabletop items, fine tabletop, basic housewares, general home furnishings, consumables, and certain juvenile products. The company also offers health and beauty care items, and giftware and household items, as well as infant and toddler merchandise. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. operates stores under the names of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBB); Christmas Tree Shops; Christmas Tree Shops andThat! or andThat! (CTS); Harmon or Harmon Face Values (Harmon); buybuy BABY (Baby); and World Market, Cost Plus World Market, and Cost Plus