Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

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

Scholastic Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $22.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $507.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -100.30 and a beta of 1.08.

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

Scholastic Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 31st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.43%. Scholastic’s dividend payout ratio is presently -444.44%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Scholastic by 13.1% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 568,206 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,120,000 after purchasing an additional 66,027 shares during the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd boosted its stake in Scholastic by 127.7% during the fourth quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 14,762 shares of the company’s stock valued at $315,000 after buying an additional 8,278 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Scholastic by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 120,446 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,569,000 after purchasing an additional 2,882 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of Scholastic by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 81,637 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,741,000 after purchasing an additional 860 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Azarias Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in Scholastic by 71.8% during the fourth quarter. Azarias Capital Management L.P. now owns 467,783 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,978,000 after purchasing an additional 195,507 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.57% of the company’s stock.

Scholastic Company Profile

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.