Company April 30 May 31 % Change
With the stock price of 14 companies declining and only seven increasing, the Publishers Weekly Stock Index fell 3.5% in May compared to a 0.2% decline for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The biggest loser in the month was Advanced Marketing Services. The company's stock price hit a 52-week high May 15 at $27 per share, but closed at $17.50 on May 31, a 27.8% decline for the month. Investors were apparently disappointed in the company's shrinking margins in the fourth quarter and conservative forecast for fiscal 2003. Concern over the performance of its music offerings was one explanation given for the 10.6% decline in Borders's stock price in May. MediaBay's improving financial prospects have made the company an investor favorite this year and the stock went up another 17.6% in May. Courier Corp. has also enjoyed steady gains this year and hit a 52-week high in early May before finishing the month up 10.1%. And Amazon.com seems to be convincing more investors it will be a profitable company, and they drove the stock price up 9.2% in May.
Source: Reed Business Information
Winners
MediaBay 4.04 4.75 17.6%
Courier Corp. 40.25 44.33 10.1
Amazon.com 16.69 18.23 9.2
Hastings Entertainment 7.15 7.68 7.4
Thomas Nelson 12.68 13.05 2.9
Losers
Advanced Marketing Serv. 24.25 17.50 -27.8%
Borders Group 23.31 20.84 -10.6
Educational Dev. Corp. 7.40 6.65 -10.1
Books-A-Million 4.39 3.95 -10.0
R.R. Donnelley 31.96 28.83 -9.8
Publishers Weekly
Stock Index 462.95 446.52 -3.5%
Dow Jones Average 9,946.22 9,925.25 -0.2%