Publishers

Storytel reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, with sales up 7 percent to SEK954 million ($91.6 million). Gross profit gained 18 percent to SEK434 million with operating profit of SEK 87 million. EBITDA was up 67 percent to SEK161 million. Those continuing profits along with increased guidance for the full year lifted the company’s stock. On October 1, Bodil Eriksson Torp became ceo of the company. In a release, she notes, “Under my leadership, we will continue to move the world through a story, explore new possibilities, and push the boundaries of what can be achieved—all in […]

Bloomsbury reported sales for the first half of their fiscal year ended August 31, with sales continuing their rise—due in particular to Sarah J. Maas—to £180 million, up 32 percent, or £43 million. Profits were up 50 percent to £26.6 million. Essentially all of the gains came from the consumer division, where sales were up 47 percent (or £42 million) to £131.3 million, with profit before taxation and highlighted items gaining 91 percent to £21.4 million. We can’t talk about the consumer division without talking about Maas. According to the publisher, her sales more than doubled again in the period, […]

Lagardere Publishing issued their brief third quarter trading update on Thursday afternoon, with third quarter sales of €765 million, just below €767 million for the same period a year ago. CEO Arnaud Lagardere said in the release, “Lagardère Publishing maintained a high level of revenue, lifted especially by a standout performance in the United States.” The announcement notes that in the US, “business grew strongly thanks to a publication schedule that included a new Malcolm Gladwell novel (Revenge of the Tipping Point) and strong backlist sales of Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid, together with rising digital sales and a solid performance in […]

Scholastic reported results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, with sales of $ 237 million, up 4 percent from the same period last year, due to strong sales from 9 Story Media Group and offset by declines in the education segment. The seasonal operating loss improved 11 percent to $(88.5) million, attributed to gains in the children’s publishing and distribution segment. Adjusted EBITA was $(60.5) million, compared to $(70.6) million in 2024. The company’s stock rebounded on better-than-expected results, rising over 10 percent in early Friday trading. Trade book sales gained 2 percent to $73.9 million, due mainly […]

Wiley reported fiscal first quarter earnings on Thursday morning, for the quarter ending July 31. Sales of $404 million were down 10.4 percent from $451 million a year ago following some asset sales. (Additionally, they completed the sale of Wiley Edge’s India operation at a pretax loss of $19.6 million, and the sale of CrossKnowledge, both on August 31, after the close of the quarter. That completes their planned asset sales.) Earnings rebounded, with operating income of $29 million, compared to an operating loss of $16.3 million a year, which was accompanied by a big non-operating impairment charge. But a […]

Bertelsmann released half year results for 2024, with sales at Penguin Random House of €2.276 billion ($2.46 billion), up 8.5 percent, compared to €2.098 billion a year ago, “largely attributable to publishing acquisitions” along with organic growth in the US and Spanish-speaking businesses. Adjusted operating EBITDA was up 12.8 percent or €33 million to €291 million, due to sales and “savings achieved largely through the reorganization of the US business.” Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins was the top fiction title for the period, while James Clear’s Atomic Habits was the top nonfiction and top backlist title. The next best selling […]