Company September 30 October 31 % Change
The 10.6% increase recorded by the Dow Jones Industrial Average in October did not carry over to the Publishers Weekly Stock Index, which rose a lackluster 1.9% in the month. Although the stock prices of four companies in the PWSI increased by more than 20% in October, only 10 companies had an increase in the month, while the stock price fell at 11 companies. An upbeat assessment about the prospects for Pearson's publishing operations given early in the month by Pearson Education president Peter Jovanovich helped boost the company's stock price by 29.5% in October. Encouraging quarterly reports by AMS and Amazon.com also gave a lift to their stock prices last month. Generally soft conditions in the printing industry drove down the stock prices of R.R. Donnelley and Banta Corp. by 14.7% and 13.2%, respectively in October. Among the less expensive stocks, Barnes & Noble's purchase of Barnes & Noble.com's shares drove the price of the e-tailer's stock up 149% in October to $1.22 per share.
Winners
Pearson 8.26 10.70 29.5%
Advanced Marketing Services 13.79 17.45 26.5
Hastings Entertainment 5.00 6.14 22.8
Amazon.com 15.93 19.36 21.5
Borders Group 15.80 17.23 9.0
Losers
R.R. Donnelley 23.51 20.05 -14.7%
Banta Corporation 35.50 30.80 -13.2
Thomas Nelson 8.80 8.00 -9.1
Courier Corporation 38.00 37.45 -1.4
Scholastic 44.68 44.15 -1.2
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 378.64 385.66 1.9%
Dow Jones Average 7,591.93 8,397.03 10.6%