Company Feb. 28 Mar. 31 % Change
Helped by four companies whose stock price rose by more than 10% last month, the Publishers Weekly Stock Index increased 3.3% in March, beating the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had a 1% gain. Advanced Marketing Services, which released its most detailed financial in more than a year last month, had the largest increase in March. A good fourth quarter and bullish projections for the year combined to lift Hasting Entertainment's share price 14.4%. Scholastic's stock took the biggest dollar hit in the month after the company announced disappointing third quarter results, though its stock price rose slightly after falling to $26.59 immediately after results were released. Stock prices rose for 12 companies on the PWSI and fell at 8; prices were even at Thomas Nelson and EDC.
Source: Reed Business Information
Winners
Advanced Mktg. Svs. 4.00 4.65 16.2%
Hastings 6.05 5.29 14.4
Courier Corp. 39.47 44.34 12.3
Pearson 12.45 13.85 11.2
Marvel 18.52 20.12 8.6
Losers
Franklin Electronic Pub. 4.25 3.76 -11.5%
Scholastic 29.42 26.76 -9.0
Reader's Digest 15.19 14.75 -2.9
R.R. Donnelley 33.66 32.72 -2.8
Amazon.com 37.44 36.53 -2.4
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 527.68 545.18 3.3%
Dow Jones Avg. 10,993.41 11,109.32 1.0%