Industry Stocks: February Performances
by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 3/8/2004
February was a mixed month for the Publishers Weekly Stock Index, with the stock prices of 12 companies rising, while stock prices fell at nine. Overall, the PWSI inched up 0.5% in February, slightly less than the 0.9% gain posted by the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The most dramatic change in the month came at Amazon.com, whose stock price fell by more than $7. Analysts attributed the 14.7% decline to profit taking and disappointment among investors about the e-tailer's gross margins. Books-A-Million's stock also had a poor February, with its stock price falling 13.3%. Other book retailers, however, had a good month, led by Hastings Entertainment, whose stock price rose 15.2%, and Borders Group, whose stock price increased 9.2% due in part to an upbeat forecast for 2004. Another stock of note in the month was Courier Corp.; its closing price of $45.20 at the end of February was just off its 52-week high of $45.70 that was achieved earlier in the month.
| Company | January 30 | February 27 | % Change |
| Winners | |||
| Hastings Entertainment | 4.75 | 5.47 | 15.2% |
| Borders Group | 21.97 | 24.00 | 9.2 |
| Reed | 35.15 | 37.85 | 7.7 |
| Courier Corp. | 42.35 | 45.20 | 6.7 |
| Marvel Enterprises | 32.23 | 34.25 | 6.3 |
| Losers | |||
| Amazon.com | 50.40 | 43.01 | -14.7% |
| Books-A-Million | 6.47 | 5.61 | -13.3 |
| LeapFrog | 27.91 | 25.75 | -7.7 |
| Banta Corp. | 46.00 | 44.36 | -3.6 |
| Reader's Digest | 13.86 | 13.50 | -2.6 |
| Publishers Weekly | |||
| Stock Index | 542.17 | 544.97 | 0.5% |
| Dow Jones Average | 10,488.07 | 10,583.92 | 0.9% |
| Source: Reed Business Information |
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