Company January 31 February 28 % Change
Both the Publishers Weekly Stock Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average had lackluster performances in February, with gains of 1.1% and 1.9%, respectively. The stock price of 11 companies declined in the month, while prices rose at 10 companies. Hastings Entertainment had the largest gain in February; its stock price was up 18.2%. Reed International, helped by a good fourth quarter, had the second largest gain as its stock price increased 12.8%. Despite reporting a better than expected fourth quarter, Borders Group and Barnes & Noble both saw their stock prices fall by about 11% in the month. Barnesandnoble.com also had a disappointing month; its stock price fell by $1, to finish February at $1.44 per share.
Source: Reed Business Information
Winners
Hastings Entertainment 5.50 6.50 18.2%
Reed International 32.46 36.60 12.8
John Wiley 22.95 25.45 10.9
Advanced Marketing Services 21.40 22.80 6.5
Banta Corp. 31.76 33.38 5.1
Losers
Borders Group 24.10 21.39 -11.2%
Barnes & Noble 34.81 30.99 -11.0
Pearson 11.65 11.34 -2.6
Educational Dev. Corp. 6.99 6.81 -2.6
Reader's Digest 21.40 20.88 -2.4
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 429.36 434.07 1.1%
Dow Jones Average 9,920.00 10,106.13 1.9%