Publishers

In Scholastic’s fiscal first quarter, ending August 31, adjusted sales were just above flat at $191.2 million, after account for the education unit sold to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, now reported as discontinued operations. Their seasonal net loss of $49.4 million was larger than the $34.1 million adjusted loss of a year ago — typical in that Scholastic generally has a loss in the first quarter, since schools are not in session, but different since it the absence of the EdTech business made the seasonal loss higher. The strong dollar pulled down international sales by $11.7 million. Trade book sales of $47.3 million were […]

Wiley reported first quarter sales for the period ending July 30, with sales falling 3 percent to $423 million (down $15 million) on currency exchange, as half their sales come from the weaker pound and euro. Adjusted operating income of $44.9 million was down 10 percent for the quarter, and net income was down $2 million (or 4 percent) to $32.4 million. On a “constant currency” basis sales actually rose 2 percent, with foreign exchange subtracting $22 million in sales in the quarter. In the professional development division, which includes their remaining trade books, revenue rose 10 percent to $98.7 […]

Barnes & Noble Education issued its first quarterly report as an independent company — though this one doesn’t really count, since it covers results through August 1, and BNED became a separate entity the following day, on August 2. First quarter sales of $239 million rose $13 million, or 5.9 percent, compared to a year ago, but they had a bigger EBITDA loss of -$35.2 million ($1.2 million more than a year ago), “due primarily to higher expenses associated with new store growth in the non-rush first quarter and continued investments in digital education.” They have been steadily sinking money into their […]

Bertelsmann reported results for the first half of 2015 from Germany on Monday morning, with the strong dollar powering topline gains at Penguin Random House. Sales of €1.697 billion were up 236 million euros compared to a year, and EBITDA of €207 million was €48 million higher than a year ago, both “mainly due to exchange rate effects.” (These totals include the separate Random House Germany, which was “near-stable” in the period. For all of 2014, RHG had sales of €279 million.) This reporting period also includes the incorporation of Santillana’s trade publishing lines (where were acquired on July 1, 2014), where […]