Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL) Sets New 52-Week Low – Here’s Why

Scholastic Co. (NASDAQ:SCHL)’s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $18.23 and last traded at $18.21, with a volume of 58164 shares. The stock had previously closed at $18.78.

Scholastic Trading Down 2.5 %

The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $21.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The firm has a market cap of $501.87 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -99.22 and a beta of 1.08.

Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL) last released its earnings results on Thursday, December 19th. The company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.30 by ($0.48). Scholastic had a positive return on equity of 1.91% and a negative net margin of 0.27%. As a group, research analysts expect that Scholastic Co. will post 0.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Scholastic Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 31st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.48%. Scholastic’s dividend payout ratio is currently -444.42%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Scholastic

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its stake in Scholastic by 3.1% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 16,403 shares of the company’s stock valued at $525,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning grew its position in shares of Scholastic by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 16,135 shares of the company’s stock valued at $516,000 after buying an additional 679 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in Scholastic by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 81,637 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,741,000 after acquiring an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in Scholastic by 58.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,346 shares of the company’s stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its stake in Scholastic by 125.4% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,443 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 1,359 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.57% of the company’s stock.

About Scholastic

Scholastic Corporation publishes and distributes children’s books worldwide. It operates in three segments: Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution, Education Solutions, and International. The Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment engages in publication and distribution of children’s print, digital, and audio books, as well as media and interactive products through its school reading events and trade channel; and operation of school-based book clubs and book fairs in the United States.