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Scholastic Corp. (SCHL)
NASDAQ:SCHL

Scholastic (SCHL) AI Stock Analysis

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Scholastic

(NASDAQ:SCHL)

Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
$23.00
▲(8.13%Upside)
Scholastic's stock score is influenced by its stable financial performance and strong cash flow, despite challenges in profitability and equity decrease. The technical indicators suggest overbought conditions, while the valuation is high but offset by a good dividend yield. The earnings call provided a mixed sentiment with both growth and challenges.

Scholastic (SCHL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Scholastic Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionScholastic Corporation (SCHL) is a leading global children's publishing, education, and media company. It operates in three primary segments: Children's Book Publishing and Distribution, Educational Solutions, and International. Scholastic is renowned for its broad range of children's books, educational materials, and digital content. The company is well-known for popular book series such as Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Captain Underpants, and it is a trusted partner for educators and parents worldwide.
How the Company Makes MoneyScholastic makes money primarily through its Children's Book Publishing and Distribution segment, which includes sales from trade publishing and book fairs. This segment is a significant revenue driver, leveraging both direct-to-consumer sales and partnerships with schools to distribute books and educational materials. The Educational Solutions segment contributes to revenue through the sale of curriculum materials, professional learning resources, and digital educational platforms aimed at enhancing classroom learning experiences. Scholastic also earns income internationally by adapting its successful models to local markets outside the United States. Key factors contributing to its earnings include brand recognition, a diverse product portfolio, and strategic partnerships with educational institutions and retailers.

Scholastic Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 20, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: 14.42%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 17, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture. While Scholastic achieved modest revenue growth and strong performance in the Children's Books segment, the company faced challenges in the Education Solutions segment, consumer spending headwinds, and uncertainty in federal education funding. The overall sentiment is balanced with significant achievements and notable challenges.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Modest Revenue Growth
Scholastic achieved modest revenue growth of 4% to $335.4 million in the third quarter, driven by strong performance in the Children's Books segment and the addition of 9 Story Media Group.
Successful Children's Books Segment
Revenues and profits increased in the Children's Book Publishing and Distribution segment, with Book Fairs revenues up 8% and Book Clubs revenues up 14%.
Record Sales of New Releases
The 13th book in Dav Pilkey's Dog Man series sold almost 2.5 million copies globally, contributing significantly to the Trade Publishing division's success.
Dividend and Share Repurchase
Returned over $35 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the third quarter.
International Segment Growth
Revenues and profits increased in major markets including Canada, the U.K., and New Zealand.
Strong YouTube Engagement
Scholastic content on YouTube saw nearly 10 million views last month, up almost 40x from a year ago.
Negative Updates
Education Solutions Revenue Decline
Sales and profits declined in the Education Solutions segment due to lower spending on supplemental curriculum, with revenues down 16%.
Consumer Spending Headwinds
Increased pressure on consumer spending, particularly in discretionary categories like Children's Book purchases, impacted transaction volumes.
Uncertainty in Federal Education Funding
Schools and school districts are delaying or pausing purchases of instructional materials due to uncertainty around federal education policy and funding mechanisms.
Challenges in Entertainment Segment
The Entertainment segment faced delays in production green lights, impacting near-term demand for production service work.
Cash Flow Decrease
Net cash used by operating activities was $12 million, compared to net cash provided of $13.1 million in the prior year period.
Company Guidance
During the Scholastic fiscal 2025 third quarter earnings call, the company provided updated guidance and metrics indicating a modest revenue growth forecast for the full year. The company now expects to achieve full-year adjusted EBITDA of approximately $140 million, aligning with the low end of its fiscal guidance. Despite facing spending headwinds in both consumer and educational sectors, Scholastic has executed cost-saving actions to benefit both the current fiscal year and fiscal 2026. The company reported a 4% revenue increase to $335.4 million in the third quarter, with an adjusted operating loss improvement to $20.9 million from $30.6 million in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA showed a positive shift to $6 million from a loss of $7.2 million the previous year. The company's net loss also improved to $1.3 million compared to $23.3 million a year ago. Scholastic plans to continue returning cash to shareholders, with $35 million returned in the last quarter through dividends and share repurchases, and has increased its share buyback authorization to $100 million. Additionally, the company is assessing its Education Solutions segment and exploring opportunities to optimize long-term potential across its business units.

Scholastic Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Scholastic exhibits a stable financial position with consistent revenue and gross profit margin. While the company maintains a healthy cash flow and manageable leverage, profitability metrics like net profit and ROE indicate room for improvement.
Income Statement
73
Positive
Scholastic shows a stable revenue base with a slight growth in the TTM period compared to the previous year. The gross profit margin remains solid at around 64.6% for TTM but has decreased slightly from 65.5% in the previous year. The EBIT margin of 1.8% is relatively low, indicating limited operational efficiency, however, it has shown improvement from previous periods. Net profit margin stands at 1.2% for TTM, reflecting modest profitability.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
Scholastic's balance sheet reveals a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, suggesting manageable leverage. The equity ratio is strong at 48%, indicating solid asset backing by equity. ROE of 1.98% in the TTM period is low, pointing to modest returns on shareholder investments. There is a noted decrease in stockholders' equity over time, which may warrant attention.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
The company demonstrates a healthy operating cash flow to net income ratio of 4.69 for TTM, indicating strong cash generation relative to net income. Free cash flow growth rate has declined but remains positive, indicating some level of reinvestment capacity. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 1.46, showing good cash conversion from profits.
BreakdownTTMJun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021Jun 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.59B1.59B1.70B1.64B1.30B1.49B
Gross Profit873.30M884.60M917.60M877.40M633.80M736.10M
EBITDA101.30M85.10M203.50M175.80M52.90M-22.70M
Net Income18.60M12.10M86.50M81.00M-10.90M-43.70M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.96B1.67B1.87B1.94B2.01B2.03B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments94.70M113.70M224.50M316.60M366.50M393.80M
Total Debt390.70M123.80M101.00M97.10M282.60M11.60M
Total Liabilities1.02B653.10M340.00M722.40M826.00M853.00M
Stockholders Equity941.30M1.02B1.16B1.22B1.18B1.18B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow27.10M96.20M86.90M184.00M23.80M-63.90M
Operating Cash Flow87.20M154.60M148.90M226.00M71.00M2.10M
Investing Cash Flow-252.20M-89.70M-99.60M-43.20M-50.50M-95.70M
Financing Cash Flow150.90M-176.10M-139.50M-229.20M-52.30M154.10M

Scholastic Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price21.27
Price Trends
50DMA
18.32
Positive
100DMA
18.74
Positive
200DMA
21.64
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.88
Negative
RSI
67.80
Neutral
STOCH
73.35
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SCHL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 21.27 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 19.21, above the 50-day MA of 18.32, and below the 200-day MA of 21.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.88 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 67.80 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 73.35 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SCHL.

Scholastic Risk Analysis

Scholastic disclosed 23 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Scholastic reported the most risks in the "Ability to Sell" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Scholastic Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
NYNYT
76
Outperform
$9.07B30.3316.68%1.29%6.85%21.26%
PSPSO
72
Outperform
$9.50B18.0310.99%2.81%-0.59%24.06%
66
Neutral
$567.02M35.651.92%3.76%-3.10%-58.47%
61
Neutral
$41.40B-1.28-14.21%3.95%2.45%-73.69%
GCGCI
59
Neutral
$524.24M11.7426.63%-7.04%
LELEE
43
Neutral
$39.06M0.00%-7.29%-258.59%
42
Neutral
$11.67M-12.24%-33.00%-1052.42%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SCHL
Scholastic
21.27
-12.77
-37.51%
EDUC
Educational Development
1.36
-0.45
-24.86%
LEE
Lee Enterprises
6.28
-4.58
-42.17%
NYT
New York Times
55.61
4.73
9.30%
PSO
Pearson
14.86
2.72
22.41%
GCI
Gannett
3.58
-1.11
-23.67%

Scholastic Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Scholastic Announces Director Retirements and Strategic Updates
Neutral
Jun 23, 2025

On June 20, 2025, Scholastic Corporation announced the planned retirements of directors David Young and John L. Davies, effective at the annual meeting on September 17, 2025. Their departures are not due to disagreements with the company. Scholastic also updated its strategic and operational initiatives, focusing on enhancing shareholder value through cost management, restructuring, and potential real estate transactions. The company aims to maintain its fiscal 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance and is actively seeking new independent directors to support its growth and transformation strategies.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Scholastic Announces New Children’s Book Group Integration
Positive
May 29, 2025

On May 29, 2025, Scholastic Corporation announced the integration of its Trade Publishing, Book Fairs, and Book Clubs divisions into a new Children’s Book Group, effective June 1, 2025. This strategic move, led by Sasha Quinton, aims to strengthen Scholastic’s position in children’s publishing by creating a cohesive approach across all channels. Jackie De Leo, a seasoned leader from Barnes & Noble, joins as Publisher and Chief Merchant to enhance the company’s editorial and merchandising capabilities. The reorganization is expected to expand Scholastic’s reach and value, ensuring its stories and characters continue to resonate with children globally.

Executive/Board Changes
Scholastic Announces Leadership Transition in Legal Department
Neutral
May 27, 2025

On May 21, 2025, Scholastic Corporation announced the retirement of Andrew S. Hedden from his roles as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, effective May 31, 2025. Hedden, who has been with the company since 2008, will transition to a role as Senior Counselor. Chris Lick, currently the Deputy General Counsel, will succeed Hedden as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, effective June 1, 2025. This leadership change marks a significant transition within Scholastic’s legal department, potentially impacting its strategic direction and operations.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jun 24, 2025