Although the stock prices rose at only five companies and fell at nine in April, the Publishers Weekly Stock Index rose 5.0% in the month driven by gains of the country’s two largest booksellers, which posted gains for different reasons. Barnes & Noble’s shares jumped 56.6% in the month following news of its partnership with and investment from Microsoft. Amazon’s stock price increased 14.5% in April as first-quarter sales exceeded expectations and the decline in earnings was less than expected. The news wasn’t all good for retailers in April as Hastings Entertainment’s stock price fell 29.3%, the largest decline among PWSI members. Books-A-Million’s stock price fell by a penny in the month despite a proposal from the Anderson family to take the company private for $3.05 per share.

Winners

Company March 30 April 30 % Change
Barnes & Noble 13.25 20.75 56.6%
Amazon 202.51 231.90 14.5
McGraw-Hill Cos. 48.47 49.17 1.4
Pearson 18.74 18.94 1.0
R.R. Donnelley 12.39 12.51 1.0

Losers

Company March 30 April 30 % Change
Hastings Ent. 2.79 1.97 -29.3
Scholastic 35.28 30.55 -13.4
Courier Corp. 11.60 10.27 -11.5
Reed Elsevier 35.38 33.05 -6.6
John Wiley 47.59 45.19 -5.0
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 512.93 538.59 5.0
Dow Jones Aver. 13,212.04 13,213.63 0.0