The Publishers Weekly Stock Index was evenly divided in October with the stock prices of seven companies rising, while prices fell at an equal number. The overall result was a 3.8% drop in the PWSI in the month which was largely due to the almost $20 drop in the share price of Amazon. The e-tailer had a weaker than expected third quarter report and investors continue to be divided over whether Amazon’s continued heavy investments are positioning it to dominate e-commerce for years to come or reflect a company that will never deliver high profits. The biggest winner in October was Amazon’s chief bookselling rival Barnes & Noble whose stock price continued is roller coaster ways, jumping 36.2% helped by good reviews for its new Nook tablets which are available in the U.S. and U.K.

Winners

Company Sept. 28 Oct. 31 % Change
Barnes & Noble 12.36 16.84 36.2%
Scholastic 31.78 33.01 3.8
Hastings Ent. 1.97 2.04 3.5
Pearson 19.54 20.10 2.9
Reed Elsevier 38.21 39.07 2.3

Losers

Company Sept. 28 Oct. 31 % Change
CBS 36.33 32.40 -10.8
Amazon 252.01 232.89 -7.6
Walt Disney 52.28 49.12 -6.0
R.R. Donnelley 10.60 10.02 -5.5
John Wiley 45.95 43.38 -5.5
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 574.68 552.98 -3.8
Dow Jones Aver. 13,437.00 13,096.46 -2.5