Bertelsmann reported financial results for 2014 on Tuesday morning, providing the first look at a full year’s worth of performance for the merged Penguin Random House. (A year ago, the 2013 report incorporated only six months worth of Penguin’s sales.) The trade publishing giant had combined sales of €3.324 billion for the year, including Random House Germany, which is still owned entirely by Bertelsmann outside of the PRH joint venture. Operating EBITDA rose in line with sales, to €452 million, “driven by numerous major bestsellers, especially in the field of children’s books, as well as tie-ins to popular movies and TV series and […]
Earnings Reports
A “Strong Holiday” Puts Books-a-Million In the Black for the Year
Books-a-Million reported fourth quarter sales after the close of the market on Monday, with sales rising 1.8 percent (or $3 million) to $161 million and net income jumping by 63 percent, up to $18.9 million, for the period ending January 31. The modest sales gain helped BAMM grow slightly for the year, with sales of $474 million rising $3.7 million from a year ago. More importantly, the growth in fourth quarter profits left the bookseller with net income from continuing operations of $2.9 million for the fiscal year, compared to a net loss of $8.4 million the year before. Same-store sales rose 1.7 […]
Revenue Gains on Bigger Losses for Scholastic’s Third Quarter
Scholastic reported third quarter sales of $382.1 million, up 2 percent (or $8.6 million) from a year ago, “largely driven by strong sales in children’s books, especially in the company’s school-based distribution channels, higher circulation of the company’s classroom magazines, and increased sales of classroom books and literacy initiatives.” But Scholastic reported a third quarter loss of $22.1 million, or 68 cents a share, versus a loss of $12.1 million (or 38 cents a share) a year ago, because of greater one-time charges and the end of a tax benefit that boosted the company at the same time last year. […]
Quarto Revenue and Profit Gain Throughout 2014
Quarto Group reported results for the year ending December 31, 2014, with sales up 2 percent to $172.6 million (a increase of $3.4 million) and operating profit up 10 percent to $15.4 million (an increase of $1.4 million). CEO Marcus Leaver said in the release, “In 2014, Quarto started to deliver on its potential following a year of tactical reorganization. The business has been simplified and focused and is beginning to deliver on its strategic priorities. The second half of the year was strong and this has given us momentum into 2015.” Chairman Tim Chadwick added: “We have made good […]
Lagardere’s Profit Falls Along with Sales
Having already reported sales for 2014 a month ago, in the European style Lagardere followed up on Wednesday afternoon with a full accounting of their profits for the year as well. On those sales of €2.004 million (down 3 percent), recurring EBIT fell further, down €26 million or 12 percent to €197 million. EBIT, after non-recurring/non-operating items, declined €23 million to €169 million. Despite the weaker year, publishing still accounts for over half of parent company Lagardere’s total earnings (but 28 percent of sales). Per our previous estimates, Hachette Book Group in the US and Canada comprised 24 percent of publishing sales, […]
Barnes & Noble Discloses More Figures, Buys More Time from Samsung
As we’ve pointed out, Barnes & Noble’s sales of Nook-branded devices have been running well below projections and their purchase promise made to Samsung. In an amendment to that agreement dated March 7, Samsung agreed to give Nook until June 30, 2016 to purchase at least 1 million co-branded tablets — giving them an extra 9 months to try to meet their minimum. Barnes & Noble’s quarterly SEC filing also provides some additional breakdowns on their business components. In the retail stores, you can now see the balance between growing toys & games sales versus what the company has called stabilizing […]