Pearson released their full financial results for 2024 after a preliminary report last month, in which they reported sales down 3 percent to £3.55 billion (attributed to currency fluctuations) and operating profit up 9 percent to £541 million. “2024 was another year of good financial performance,” cfo Sally Johnson stated in the report. “The progress we have made over recent years shows real momentum in the business, which gives us confidence in delivering our guidance for 2025 and beyond.” Higher education sales were £826 million compared to £855 million, down 3 percent on a headline basis and up 1 percent […]
Earnings Reports
BNED Reports Income Growth But Dilutes Shares
Barnes & Noble Education reported results for the third quarter ended January 25, with sales up 2 percent to $466 million due to modest growth in its subscription courseware program First Day Complete. Net income grew to $7.1 million after a loss of $(9.9) million in the same period last year. But the gain is due in large part to a $7.6 million one-time benefit from “the termination of liabilities related to a frozen retirement benefit plan,” according to the company’s SEC filing. Adjusted EBITDA grew 30 percent to $27.4 million due to lower expenses from “cost-savings, productivity initiatives, and […]
AI Licensing Helps Wiley While Textbook Sales Fall
Wiley reported results from the third quarter ended January 31, with adjusted sales of $405 million, down from $461 million, due to the loss of sales from divested businesses. Operating income was $51.8 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $(46.4) million in 2024, when there was a big impairment for writedown of goodwill. Income before taxes was $18.7 million, up from $(112.3) million. The learning segment, which includes textbook sales, fell 6 percent for sales of $137 million, due to softness in academic sales and an unfavorable comparison to the previous year, which included a $6 million […]
Bonnier Books Hits Record Sales in 2024
Bonnier Books reported results for the full year 2024, with net sales of SEK 8.39 billion, up 4 percent from 2023—a record for the company. EBITDA fell 10 percent to SEK 684 million, though they say “adjusted for items affecting comparability, [the number] represents an improvement of SEK 176 million.” Sales improved in Sweden, Finland, and the UK, and Germany “once again had a good year.” The books and news segments contributed to overall success for the company, ceo Erik Haegerstrand said in a release. Overall group net sales increased slightly to SEK 23.19 billion and EBITDA was “the highest […]
Higher Ed Inches Up at Pearson
Pearson released a preliminary report of their full year 2024 results, with sales of £3.55 billion, compared to £3.67 billion in 2023, down due to currency fluctuations. Excluding businesses under strategic review, the company reports sales up 3 percent, due to growth in all segments except virtual schools. Operating profit was £541 million, up 9 percent from the previous year, “driven by increased trading profits, a reduction in property and intangible amortization charges, a lower year on year net loss from acquisitions and disposals, partially offset by one off UK discretionary pension charges,” according to a release. Adjusted operating profit […]
Hachette Book Group Grew 7 Percent in 2024
Lagardere announced results for the fourth quarter and full year, with quarterly publishing sales flat at €799 million. For the year, sales were €2.87 billion, up 2.2 percent as reported and 1.9 percent on a like-for-like basis. EBITDA grew 34.7 percent to €295 million and recurring EBIT gained 14 percent to €593 million. In the US, sales at Hachette Book Group for the year were up 7 percent, boosted by books including The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, and Eruption by James Patterson and Michael Crichton. In a statement, ceo David Shelley said that the […]