Lagardere announced financial results for the first quarter of 2026, with publishing sales of €615 million, down 1.1 percent as reported and up 1.4 percent on a like for like basis. (There was a €24 million negative currency effec,t as the US dollar, British pound, and Japanese yen fell compared to the euro.) Like for like, sales at Hachette Book Group in the US grew 2 percent, based on strong frontlist titles. Sales at Hachette UK fell 4 percent on an unfavorable comparison, since the same period in 2025 had Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm. French sales grew 1 percent. The […]
Earnings Reports
Profits Slip At PRH in 2025
Bertelsmann announced results for the full year 2025. Sales at Penguin Random House globally were €4.981 billion, up 1.3 percent (or €61 million from the previous year), with organic growth up 3.3 percent. Adjusted operating EBITDA fell 4.7 percent, down €35 million to €704 million “primarily due to growth-related expenses in the US core business along with negative exchange rate effects,” the earnings report states. Foreign exchange reduced sales by 3.9 percent, in large part due to the weakened US dollar. “Despite increased revenues, our profitability continued to be impacted by rising costs that all of us are feeling in […]
Scholastic Sales Slip in the Third Quarter; Announces Big Share Repurchase and Dutch Auction
Scholastic reported results from its third quarter, ended February 28, with sales down 2 percent to $329 million. Operating loss increased 13 percent to $(26.9) million and operating loss before one-time items was down 16 percent to $(24.3) million. Adjusted EBITDA fell to $0 from $6 million, attributed to the sale-leaseback transactions on their properties. At the same time, the company announced a $200 million “modified Dutch auction tender offer,” buying back shares at a price range of between $36 to $40 per share. That auction is part of a new $300 million repurchase plan, with “the remaining portion of […]
Sales Grow at BNED As Profits Drop in Q3
Barnes & Noble Education announced results for the third quarter ended January 31, with sales up 11.3 percent to $515.1 million due to increases in the company’s BNC First Day course material bundles and an increase in physical and virtual stores. Operating income fell 2.7 percent to $14.6 million. Net income was down 62.9 percent to $6.7 million, due to a restructuring gain and tax benefit in the comparable period. Adjusted EBITDA fell 4.6 percent to $23.6 million due to “timing differences in revenue recognition” that led to lower gross margins, plus costs of investigating previous accounting errors. Comparable store […]
Wiley Reduces Expenses, Continues AI Partnerships
Wiley released earnings for the third quarter ended January 31, announcing sales up 1 percent to $410 million and operating income up 21 percent to $63 million, in line with expectations. The company continues its partnership with AI companies to license training material, making $7 million in the quarter. They also reduced corporate expenses, leading to adjusted EBITDA of $105 million, representing 12 percent growth at constant currency. “We continue to accelerate our progress in major areas of focus, from driving Research and AI growth to delivering materially higher margins and cash flow,” president and ceo Matthew Kissner said in […]
Pearson Ekes Ahead in 2025, As Profits Suffer
Perason announced preliminary results for their full year 2025, further to the brief trading update they released in January. Actual topline sales for the year were barely about flat at £3.577 billion, only £25 million higher than a year ago, though the company reports “underlying” sales growth of 4 percent. Sales suffered due to currency exchange. Statutory operating profit of £507 million was down £34 million, but they take heart that adjusted operating profit rose 6 percent to £614 million, due to the growth and sales and cost savings, “partially offset by investment and inflation.” Profits fell due in part […]