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Scholastic Corp. (SCHL)
NASDAQ:SCHL
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Scholastic (SCHL) AI Stock Analysis

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SCHL

Scholastic

(NASDAQ:SCHL)

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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
$27.00
▲(2.23% Upside)
Scholastic's overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges, with declining revenue and profitability being the most impactful factors. Technical analysis provides some positive signals, but valuation concerns persist due to a negative P/E ratio. The earnings call highlights both strategic achievements and ongoing challenges, contributing to a balanced but cautious outlook.

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

Scholastic Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionScholastic Corporation (SCHL) is a global publishing, education, and media company known for its wide range of children's books, educational materials, and various multimedia products. Established in 1920, the company operates primarily in the children's publishing sector, providing a diverse portfolio of books, magazines, and digital content aimed at fostering literacy and a love of reading. Scholastic also engages in educational publishing, offering curriculum and assessment resources for schools, as well as operating the popular Scholastic Book Clubs and Book Fairs, which promote reading among students.
How the Company Makes MoneyScholastic generates revenue through multiple key streams, primarily from its publishing and educational segments. The company's core revenue sources include the sale of children's books and educational materials, which are distributed through retail channels, direct sales, and its own book clubs and fairs. Additionally, Scholastic earns revenue from licensing its intellectual properties for adaptations in various media, including films and television. The company benefits from ongoing partnerships with schools and educational institutions, which contribute significantly to its sales of classroom resources and curriculum materials. Seasonal sales during back-to-school periods and strong marketing campaigns further enhance its revenue potential.

Scholastic Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Sep 18, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Dec 11, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a mix of positive and negative developments for Scholastic. Strong growth in children's book publishing, international markets, and entertainment initiatives are offset by declines in overall revenue, challenges in the education segment due to volatile funding, and increased net debt. The sentiment is balanced, with notable achievements in strategic initiatives, but significant challenges in revenue and specific segments.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Children's Book Publishing and Distribution Growth
Revenues for the first quarter increased by 4% to $109.4 million, driven by growth in school book fairs with book fair revenue increasing by 18%.
Strong Performance in International Segment
International segment revenues rose to $59.4 million from $56.8 million, driven by higher revenues in Australia, the U.K., and Asia, and continued optimization efforts.
Real Estate Monetization Progress
Significant investor interest in the monetization process of the SoHo headquarters and Jefferson City distribution center.
Expansion in Scholastic Entertainment
Launch of the first-ever Scholastic branded streaming app and integration of 9-story Media Group into strategy, with 1.2 million YouTube subscribers.
Successful Integration in Children's Book Group
Integration of trade fairs and clubs into the new Children's Book group, focusing on streamlining operations and driving early cost savings.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Overall Revenues
Revenues decreased by 5% to $225.6 million, with a net loss of $63.3 million compared to $60.3 million in the prior year.
Challenges in Scholastic Education
Segment revenues were down to $40.1 million from $55.7 million, reflecting a volatile funding environment and delays or cancellations of federal education grants.
Decline in Entertainment Segment Revenues
Revenues in the entertainment segment decreased by $3 million to $13.6 million, primarily driven by fewer episodic deliveries.
Higher Cash Use and Net Debt Increase
Seasonal net cash used by operating activities was $81.8 million compared to $41.9 million, with net debt increasing to $242.8 million from $136.6 million.
Company Guidance
During Scholastic's Fiscal Year 2026 First Quarter Earnings Call, management maintained their full-year guidance, affirming revenue growth expectations of 2% to 4% and adjusted EBITDA between $160 million and $170 million. The company experienced a 5% decrease in revenues to $225.6 million, although the adjusted operating loss improved to $81.9 million from $85.6 million year-over-year, reflecting cost-saving measures. Notably, the Children's Book Publishing and Distribution segment saw a 4% revenue increase to $109.4 million due to robust school book fair sales, while the Education segment faced headwinds with revenues falling to $40.1 million from $55.7 million, affected by a volatile funding environment. Additionally, international operations showed growth, with revenues climbing to $59.4 million from $56.8 million. Furthermore, the company highlighted strong future releases, such as a new "Dog Man" book, and emphasized the integration of digital strategies to drive profitability, including the anticipated launch of a Scholastic branded streaming app.

Scholastic Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Scholastic shows stable financials with positive cash flow trends and revenue growth, but struggles with profitability and increased leverage. The balance sheet is strong, yet the negative return on equity and net profit margin are concerns.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Scholastic's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a slight revenue growth of 2.1%, but the company is struggling with profitability, as evidenced by a negative net profit margin of -0.65%. The gross profit margin remains healthy at 48.37%, but the EBIT and EBITDA margins are relatively low at 6.47% and 5.21%, respectively. The company needs to focus on improving its cost structure and profitability.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects a moderate financial position. The debt-to-equity ratio has increased to 0.50 in the TTM period, indicating a rise in leverage, but it remains manageable. The return on equity is negative at -1.12%, highlighting profitability challenges. However, the equity ratio is strong at approximately 46.39%, suggesting a solid equity base. Scholastic should aim to enhance its return on equity while managing debt levels.
Cash Flow
50
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals positive trends, with a significant free cash flow growth of 165.68% in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.13, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.50, indicating a reasonable conversion of earnings to cash. The company has improved its cash flow generation, which is a positive sign for future financial flexibility.
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.61B1.63B1.59B1.70B1.64B1.30B
Gross Profit882.70M841.00M884.60M917.60M877.40M633.80M
EBITDA89.00M80.40M85.10M203.50M175.80M52.90M
Net Income-10.50M-1.90M12.10M86.50M81.00M-10.90M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.95B1.95B1.67B1.87B1.94B2.01B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments94.30M124.00M113.70M224.50M316.60M366.50M
Total Debt443.20M374.50M123.80M101.00M97.10M282.60M
Total Liabilities1.08B1.00B653.10M340.00M722.40M826.00M
Stockholders Equity878.00M946.50M1.02B1.16B1.22B1.18B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow42.10M72.00M96.20M86.90M184.00M23.80M
Operating Cash Flow84.30M124.20M154.60M148.90M226.00M71.00M
Investing Cash Flow-67.00M-252.90M-89.70M-99.60M-43.20M-50.50M
Financing Cash Flow-7.80M137.30M-176.10M-139.50M-229.20M-52.30M

Scholastic Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price26.41
Price Trends
50DMA
25.14
Positive
100DMA
22.17
Positive
200DMA
20.88
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.32
Positive
RSI
53.52
Neutral
STOCH
64.04
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 26.41 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 26.19, above the 50-day MA of 25.14, and above the 200-day MA of 20.88, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.32 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 53.52 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 64.04 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 25 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 (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
9.34B29.5515.25%1.07%7.82%19.39%
72
Outperform
8.83B16.1210.75%2.14%1.93%34.40%
60
Neutral
634.85M6.5848.81%-8.00%
56
Neutral
$661.15M37.85-1.14%3.08%0.97%-197.80%
50
Neutral
11.76M-2.26-12.81%-32.68%-3656.21%
46
Neutral
35.57M-0.81261.35%-5.68%-127.26%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SCHL
Scholastic
26.41
-4.45
-14.42%
EDUC
Educational Development
1.36
-0.98
-41.88%
LEE
Lee Enterprises
5.49
-3.22
-36.97%
NYT
New York Times
57.81
2.79
5.07%
PSO
Pearson
13.99
0.69
5.19%
GCI
Gannett
4.24
-1.38
-24.56%

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: Sep 24, 2025