After slipping 1.8% in April, the Publishers Weekly Stock Index moved up 1.3% in May as the stock prices of 13 companies rose in the month, while prices fell at eight companies. The 1.3% increase posted by the PWSI beat the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which dipped 0.4% in May. For the second month in a row, Hastings Entertainment had the biggest gain with its stock price up 17.9% in May, driven by better than expected earnings in the first quarter. Strong sales for the fourth quarter ended March 31 helped boost Franklin Electronic Publishers' stock price 13.5%. Despite an upbeat forecast for the new fiscal year, Thomas Nelson's stock fell 10.5% in May, the biggest drop among the stocks on the PWSI.

Industry Stocks: May Performances

COMPANY APRIL 30 MAY 28 % CHANGE

Source: REED BUSINESS INFORMATION
Winners
Hastings Entertainment 6.60 7.78 17.9%
Franklin Electronic Pub. 3.77 4.28 13.5
Advanced Marketing Srvc. 9.93 11.07 11.5
Amazon.com 43.60 48.50 11.2
Books-A-Million 5.56 5.99 7.7
Losers
Thomas Nelson 26.16 23.42 -10.5%
Courier Corp. 40.75 38.47 -5.6
Borders Group 23.97 22.83 -4.7
Banta Corp. 44.48 43.64 -1.9
McGraw-Hill Cos. 78.86 77.92 -1.2
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 517.16 523.76 1.3%
Dow Jones Average 10,225.57 10,188.45 -0.4%