Scholastic Reports Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Results

Over $35 Million Returned to Shareholders in Third Quarter; Share Repurchase Authorization Increased to $100 Million

Company Affirms Adjusted EBITDA Outlook at Low End of Range

New York – March 20, 2025 – Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today reported financial results for the Company’s fiscal third quarter ended February 28, 2025.

Peter Warwick, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Scholastic achieved modest revenue growth and improved operating results in the third quarter. Despite increasing pressure on family and school spending on books and educational materials, strong performance by School Book Fairs and Clubs, successful new titles and the addition of 9 Story Media Group contributed to positive results, underscoring Scholastic’s unique strengths engaging kids with great books and quality children’s media.

“Scholastic’s winning record creating global children’s franchises continued last quarter. Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, the thirteenth book in Dav Pilkey’s global phenomenon, has been the top-selling book in the US and major English-speaking markets since its release in early December. Earlier this week Scholastic published the fifth book in Suzanne Collins’ bestselling Hunger Games^® series, Sunrise on the Reaping, which is already topping some bestseller lists based on pre-orders. Last quarter Scholastic Entertainment also leveraged its new capabilities to greatly expand the distribution and monetization of the Company’s IP on YouTube, the dominant platform for kids’ media consumption. In February alone Scholastic’s branded channels drew almost 10 million views, up nearly 40 times from a year ago.

“The Education Solutions division was impacted by the continued slow-down in the supplemental curriculum market in the third quarter, but we remain encouraged by upcoming product launches. We have also begun a strategic review of this important and valuable business, as we explore options to optimize it for long-term success.

“Based on the intensifying spending pressure that we experienced last quarter and expect to continue into the fourth quarter, we forecast full-year Adjusted EBITDA at the low end of our fiscal 2025 guidance and more modest revenue growth year-over-year. We have taken a number of one-time and ongoing cost actions in response to these headwinds, as previously disclosed, benefiting both the current and next fiscal years. As we continue to focus on Scholastic’s long-term growth and profitability, we remain committed to our capital allocation priorities, expanding our share repurchase authorization to $100 million and after having returned over $35 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends last quarter.”

Outlook

For fiscal year 2025, the Company has narrowed its outlook for Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the accompanying tables) to approximately $140 million, from $140 million to $150 million previously. The Company now forecasts modest full-year revenue growth, compared to prior guidance of 4% to 6% growth.

Revenues increased 4% to $335.4 million, reflecting the contribution of 9 Story Media Group, recorded in the Entertainment segment, and higher revenues in School Reading Events, partly offset by lower supplemental curriculum and collections product sales in Education Solutions.

Operating loss improved 32% to a loss of $23.9 million in the quarter compared to a loss of $34.9 million a year ago, including $3.0 million and $4.3 million in one-time charges in each period, respectively. Excluding one-time charges in both periods, operating loss improved $9.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure of operations explained in the accompanying tables) increased 183% to $6.0 million. The improved seasonal loss primarily reflects a reduction in discretionary overhead expenses and higher revenues in the Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment, which more than offset the impact of lower sales in Education Solutions.

Quarterly Results

Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution

In the fiscal third quarter, the Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment’s revenues increased 5% to $203.3 million.

• Book Fairs revenues were $110.7 million, up 8% from the prior year period, reflecting a larger number of fall-season fairs occurring in December compared to the prior year period, which contributed to higher fair count in the quarter. Fair count remains on track to achieve 90,000 fairs in fiscal 2025. Revenue per fair was in-line with prior year.

• Book Clubs revenues were $15.2 million, up 14% from the prior year period, primarily reflecting higher order volumes and revenue per sponsor.

• Consolidated Trade revenues were $77.4 million, in line with the prior year period, primarily reflecting the strong performance of the global bestselling Dog Man^® series, offset by lower backlist sales as increasing pressure on consumer spending led to softness in the retail book market. Fourth quarter revenues are expected to benefit from the March 2025 release of Sunrise on the Reaping, the fifth book in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games^® series.

Segment operating income was $7.6 million, compared to $2.3 million a year ago, which included one-time charges of $0.5 million in the prior year period. Excluding one-time charges, adjusted operating loss improved by $4.8 million. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher revenue in School Reading Events.

Education Solutions

Education Solutions revenues decreased 16% to $57.2 million, on lower sales driven by the continuing headwinds in the supplemental curriculum market. Segment operating loss was $6.9 million, compared to segment operating loss of $0.8 million in the prior period, reflecting lower segment revenues. The segment continues to invest in new products for release in the 2025/2026 school year.

Entertainment

Segment revenues were $12.8 million, primarily reflecting the addition of 9 Story Media Group. Segment operating loss was $3.9 million, which included one-time charges of $1.5 million, compared to $3.1 million in the prior year period, which included one-time charges of $3.0 million. Excluding one-time charges, adjusted segment operating loss increased $2.3 million. As part of the acquisition, the Company incurred $2.3 million of intangible amortization during the quarter. Excluding the amortization, operating loss was $0.1 million.

International

Excluding unfavorable foreign currency exchange of $2.7 million, International revenues increased 5% to $59.3 million, reflecting higher revenues in major markets. Segment operating loss was $2.1 million, which included one-time charges of $0.1 million, compared to a loss of $5.9 million in the prior year period. Excluding one-time charges, adjusted operating loss improved by $3.9 million, driven by higher revenues and operational efficiencies.

Overhead

Overhead costs were $18.6 million, which included one-time charges of $1.4 million, compared to $27.4 million in the prior year period, which included one-time charges of $0.8 million. Excluding one-time charges, adjusted overhead costs decreased $9.4 million driven by lower employee-related costs.

Net cash used by operating activities was $12.0 million, compared to net cash provided of $13.1 million in the prior year period, primarily driven by lower customer remittances and higher interest payments, partly offset by lower taxes. Free cash use (a non-GAAP measure of operations explained in the accompanying tables) was $30.7 million in fiscal 2025, compared to free cash use of $7.1 million in the prior period.

Net debt was $189.4 million compared to a net cash position of $78.9 million in the prior year period, reflecting the Company’s borrowings under its recently upsized revolving credit facility to fund the acquisition of 9 Story Media Group. The Company believes its balance sheet provides significant flexibility, with modest debt and non-operating assets that could be monetized, if and when the Company chose to, market conditions permitting, in accordance with its capital allocation priorities.

The Company owns its headquarters building at 555 / 557 Broadway in Soho, New York City, with 355,000 square feet, of which 26,600 square feet is premium retail space that is currently under lease and is expected to generate $11.1 million in rental revenue in fiscal year 2026, based on currently held lease agreements. Of the remaining 328,400 square feet of Class A office space, 108,000 square feet are currently being marketed, as the Company consolidates its use of the building. Offsetting gains on any potential monetization transaction, the tax basis of the New York City headquarters reflects the purchase of 555 Broadway in 2014 for approximately $255 million and subsequent improvements, less accumulated depreciation.

In addition to the New York City headquarters building, the Company owns its distribution facilities, including three warehouses with 1,459,000 square feet of space and 162 acres of related land, situated in and around Jefferson City, MO. These facilities are approximately 70% utilized at the moment. The tax basis on this asset is low, reflecting many years of accumulated depreciation.

Consistent with its capital allocation priorities, the Company distributed $5.7 million in dividends and repurchased 1,450,274 shares of its common stock for $30.0 million in the third quarter.

The Company's Board of Directors authorized an additional $53.4 million for repurchases of its common stock under the Company's stock repurchase program increasing the authorization to $100 million. The Company expects to continue purchasing shares, from time to time as conditions allow, on the open market or in negotiated private transactions for the foreseeable future.

Revenues of $1,117.2 million year to date were in line with the prior year period, primarily reflecting the contribution of 9 Story Media Group, recorded in the Entertainment segment, offset by lower supplemental curriculum and collections product sales in Education Solutions.

Operating loss was $37.7 million year to date, compared to operating loss of $32.7 million a year ago, including $10.1 million and $10.6 million in one-time charges related to restructuring and cost-savings activities in each period, respectively. Excluding one-time charges, operating loss increased $5.5 million from a year ago. This primarily reflects the impact of lower sales in Education Solutions and the impact of the 9 Story Media Group acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA increased $8.0 million to $54.2 million, primarily reflecting the impact of the 9 Story Media Group acquisition. As part of the acquisition, the Company incurred $6.5 million of intangible amortization during the period. Excluding the amortization, operating loss was $31.2 million.

Additional Information

To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we include certain non-GAAP calculations and presentations including, as noted above, “Adjusted EBITDA” and “Free Cash Flow”. Please refer to the non-GAAP financial tables attached to this press release for supporting details on the impact of one-time items on operating income, net income and diluted EPS, and the use of non-GAAP financial measures included in this release. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its results at 4:30 p.m. ET today, March 20, 2025. Peter Warwick, Scholastic President and Chief Executive Officer, and Haji Glover, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, will moderate the call.

A live webcast of the call can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/m98wgyws/. To access the conference call by phone, please go to https://register.vevent.com/register/BIba13029c72e1414fa441a92404a14a4d, which will provide dial-in details. To avoid delays, participants are encouraged to dial into the conference call five minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. Shortly following the call, an archived webcast and accompanying slides from the conference call will be posted at investor.scholastic.com.

About Scholastic

For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children's books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media. As the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online, and with a global reach into more than 135 countries, Scholastic encourages the personal and intellectual growth of all children, while nurturing a lifelong relationship with reading, themselves, and the world around them. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to future periods. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the conditions of the children’s book and educational materials markets generally and acceptance of the Company’s products within those markets, and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated.

SCHL: Financial

Click here to download a PDF version of this release with tables.