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 |
