Company April 30 May 30 % Change
The Publishers Weekly Stock Index followed up a strong showing in April with an even better May performance. The PWSI rose 9.2% in May, more than doubling the gain of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for the month as the stock prices of 17 companies rose while prices fell at five. Thomas Nelson, which announced in May that it had a strong fourth quarter for the period ended March 31, had the largest gain in the month, with its stock price up 25.4%. Amazon.com continued its return as an investors' favorite with a 25.1% increase. R.R. Donnelley, which said in May that it expects to hit its 2003 earnings forecast, and Barnes & Noble, whose first quarter earnings beat analysts' estimates, also had stock price gains of better than 20% in the month. The biggest loser in May was Hastings Entertainment, which had a disappointing first quarter and cut its earnings forecast for the year.
Source: Reed Business Information
Winners
Thomas Nelson 9.25 11.60 25.4%
Amazon.com 28.69 35.89 25.1
R.R. Donnelley 20.16 24.95 23.7
Barnes & Noble 19.70 23.80 20.8
Banta Corp. 31.05 34.57 11.3
Pearson 8.49 9.36 10.2
Losers
Hastings Entertainment 4.04 3.14 -22.3%
Advanced Marketing Services 11.78 11.20 -4.9
Courier Corp. 49.27 48.93 -0.7
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 398.71 435.35 9.2%
Dow Jones Average 8,480.09 8,850.26 4.3%