Today we will look at three large publishers that have been very successful but face headwinds to achieving faster growth. Each of these companies has demonstrated great staying power–after all, the youngest was established in 1920.
The global information giant
On its website, Pearson PLC (ADR) (NYSE:PSO) describes itself modestly as “The World’s Leading Learning Company.” Its products and services are marketed in more than 70 countries. Its Education Division distributes educational materials and learning technologies, including educational software. It also operates schools and Pearson PLC (ADR) (NYSE:PSO) publishes fiction and non-fiction books through Penguin Books.
In a presentation of 2012 results, the company reported continued weakness in demand for print publications in the developed world, offset by stronger demand in emerging countries. Pearson PLC (ADR) (NYSE:PSO) also cited the growth in digital products and services. For the year, its sales were up 5% and operating profit was up 1%. The North American Education division revenues rose 2% whereas the industry experienced a 10% decline. Penguin revenues were up just 1%, but e-books now account for a healthy 17% of that division’s sales.
Where kids rule
Scholastic Corp (NASDAQ:SCHL) publishes children’s books, classroom magazines, interactive games, curriculum-based materials, learning technologies and software. Its distribution channels include school-based book clubs, retail stores and the Internet. One of this company’s big success stories was the Harry Potter series, and more recently it published The Hunger Games trilogy.
For the third quarter, revenues of $381 million were down a full 18% from the same quarter in 2012. Its quarterly net loss of $20 million was double that of the previous year’s. The decline was mainly due to lower sales of children’s books, which were $80 million below what had been sold during the same quarter of 2012. For the first three quarters, the company did manage a net profit of $10 million, still well below the previous year’s $48 million. Favorable developments in the third quarter included a revenue increase of $2 million in the Educational Technology and Services segment, and a $5 million increase in Classroom and Supplemental Materials revenues.
The company was hurt by significantly lower than expected sales of The Hunger Games and a decline in revenue per order from its book club distribution channel. Scholastic Corp (NASDAQ:SCHL) hopes that technology will help right the ship. In a presentation of third quarter results, the company cited increased investment in digital publishing and five new educational technology products.
Talk about longevity
John Wiley & Sons Inc (NYSE:JW.A) has been publishing since 1807 — two years before Edgar Allan Poe was born. It creates and distributes content and content-enabled digital services including journals, books, reference works and laboratory manuals. The third quarter ended January 31 and a presentation and analysis of the results can be viewed here.
It reported an overall revenue increase of 6% to $461 million, compared to last year’s third quarter. Operating income was up 8%. The company has three business segments. The largest is the Scientific, Technical, Medical and Scholarly (STMS) segment, accounting for more than half of total revenues. The biggest revenue source in that category, journal subscriptions, fell 2% and sales of print books dropped 5%. The bright spot was digital book sales which rose 20%.
In the Global Education segment, sales of print textbooks fell 10% but revenues from e-book sales soared 144% and the WileyPLUS learning solution — an online teaching and learning environment — grew 25%. In the Professional Development segment, the story was the same: lower print book revenue offset by higher e-book demand. One of the problems the company cited regarding the drop in textbook sales was tight library funding.
John Wiley & Sons Inc (NYSE:JW.A)’s solution to soft demand for print products is to “accelerate the move to digital products.” It is also undergoing cost restructuring.
When I think of John Wiley & Sons Inc (NYSE:JW.A), the word prestigious comes to mind. In the STMS segment, they are able to command relatively high prices for their books because of the quality of the information and the status of authors as distinguished scholars and experts. These higher prices allow it to maintain higher margins. It also has higher than average pricing in its business and trade books.
What we’ve learned
Publishers understand that future growth will come from digital products delivered on multiple technological platforms at the consumers’ convenience. Consumers are still in the early stages of understanding — and making use of — the new information delivery platforms.
The developing countries need access to knowledge in order for their economies to continue to grow at a strong pace. Content-rich publishers are positioned to meet these needs.
Franchise fiction properties such as The Hunger Games can result in wild swings in profits.
Companies like Scholastic are making the consumption of information fun and interactive for kids.
Publishers are making strides in changing their cost structures so they can be more profitable in the future.
The stocks
Each of these companies has a remarkable, if unspectacular, consistency in their stock performance. Pearson PLC (ADR) (NYSE:PSO)’s 52 week range is $17-$20.50. A recent price is around $18.50, right in the middle of the range. Scholastic Corp (NASDAQ:SCHL) has a 52 week range of $25-$35. Current price? Around $30, right in the middle of the range. John Wiley & Sons Inc (NYSE:JW.A) has a 52 week range of $36-$52. The current price is towards the low end, $40. Could this company represent the best value?
The article Getting a Read on the Prospects of Three Large Publishers originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Brian Hill.
Brian Hill has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Brian is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
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