WH Smith announced preliminary results for the year, ended August 31, with sales up 28 percent to £1.79 billion. Trading profit, driven by the Travel division, was up £74 million to £164 million, and group profit before tax was £110 million, compared to £63 million in 2022 High street sales were £469 million, down from £473 million, with trading profit falling £2 million to £43 million, “in line with expectations.” The company closed 13 High Street stores in the period, bringing their total to 514. They say they are focused on efficiency and cost management, with savings of £15 million […]
Booksellers
BNED Benefits from Closing Underperforming Stores
After an eventful summer which included a delayed full-year SEC filing, renegotiated loans to narrowly avoid collapse, and two new board members to oversee “strategic options,” Barnes & Noble Education announced results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, ended July 29 (which is typically a soft quarter for the company). Sales for the quarter were $264.2 million, up from $254.7 million last year (remember: sales for the same quarter in fiscal 2019 were $338 million). Net loss was $(50.4) million, compared to $(52.7) million, and gross profit was $50.6 million, down from $56.0 million. In the retail segment, […]
BNED Focuses on Cost-Reduction, Profitable Segments
After a delay in filing while they renegotiated loans with investors, Barnes & Noble Education announced formal results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 ended April 29. Those numbers were in line with the preliminary data announced in mid-July, including full year sales of $1.54 billion, up 3.2 percent from the previous year, and a grim higher net loss of $(101.9) million, even worse than the $(68.86) million the previous year. Per those preliminary numbers, fourth quarter sales were $241.8 million, down from $252.2 million last year, and net loss was $(46.25) million, an increase from $(10.96) million. […]
BNED Delays Earnings Report As It Renegotiates Loans, Faces Possible Going Concern Warning
Barnes & Noble Education has notified the SEC of a late filing of its year-end financial report, as it attempts to refinance its loans with creditors, or reach “other liquidity solutions,” in an effort “to strengthen its liquidity and financial position.” Notably, “If the Company does not consummate a refinancing or other transaction to sufficiently enhance its liquidity before the issuance of the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2023…management likely would conclude that substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern exists.” They note elsewhere in the […]
Booktopia Issues Shares to Raise $6.5 Million for Distro Center
Australian retailer Booktopia announced commitments to raise $6.5 million from a big new share issuance, with a price of .12 cents per share, which will predominantly be used to fund a new distribution center. The “Next Gen customer fulfillment center” is expected to be operational in late August. “After two years of losses, completing the Next Gen CFC and with the other business improvement initiatives already announced will reset the cost base of the business,” Booktopia chair Peter George said in a release. The company expects EBITDA loss for fiscal year 2023 to be $5 million, compared to a profit […]
February Cyber Attack Hits Indigo’s Results
Canadian bookseller Indigo released results for “a rollercoaster year,” ended April 1. Sales for the year were flat at $1.058 billion, compared to $1.062 billion a year ago, challenged by a ransomware attack in February and “diminishing consumer confidence” caused by inflation. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $(20.5) million, compared to $32.5 million in 2022, and the company reported a net loss of $(49.6) million, compared to last year’s net earnings of $3.3 million. On their own, fourth quarter sales were down 12 percent to $194.2 million, with a net loss of $(42.5) million, compared to a $(23.4) loss […]