Helped along by a 7.1% increase in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in July, the Publishers Weekly Stock Index gained 8.4% in the month with all but three of the companies appearing on the PWSI posting an increase in their stock price. The gain in the Dow was driven by strong corporate earnings and that was true for the PWSI as well. Pearson and Reed Elsevier had solid results for the first six months of 2010, while third-place Courier Corp. had an improved third quarter. In addition to down months for Hastings and Educational Development Corp., Borders was the other company not having a gain in its shares in July, with its stock price holding at $1.33. Barnes & Noble's stock price has increased since the end of the month following the decision by the board to explore the sale of the company.

Winners

Company June 30 July 30 % Change
Pearson 13.15 15.67 19.6%
Reed Elsevier 29.30 34.71 18.5
Courier Corp. 12.21 15.93 17.5
CBS 12.93 14.78 14.3
McGraw-Hill Cos. 28.14 30.69 9.1
Amazon 109.26 117.89 7.9
Books-A-Million 6.02 6.48 7.6

Losers

Hastings Entertainment 7.66 7.25 -5.4
Educational Dev. Corp. 5.51 5.41 -1.8
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 349.07 378.38 8.4
Dow Jones Aver. 9,774.02 10,465.94 7.1