Barclays PLC Grows Stock Holdings in Scholastic Co. (NASDAQ:SCHL)

Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Scholastic Co. (NASDAQ:SCHL - Free Report) by 291.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,228 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 30,699 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned approximately 0.15% of Scholastic worth $1,319,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC bought a new position in Scholastic during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $279,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Scholastic in the second quarter worth approximately $1,295,000. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp increased its stake in shares of Scholastic by 50.0% in the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 34,458 shares of the company's stock worth $1,222,000 after buying an additional 11,487 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Scholastic by 13.2% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 488,259 shares of the company's stock valued at $17,319,000 after buying an additional 56,835 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BOKF NA bought a new stake in Scholastic in the 2nd quarter worth $299,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.57% of the company's stock.

Scholastic Stock Performance

NASDAQ SCHL traded up $0.52 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $19.49. 408,672 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 329,767. The business's fifty day moving average price is $24.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $547.69 million, a P/E ratio of 34.80 and a beta of 1.10. Scholastic Co. has a 52 week low of $18.57 and a 52 week high of $40.74.

Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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 return on equity of 4.32% and a net margin of 1.49%. Equities research analysts predict that Scholastic Co. will post 1.41 EPS for the current year.

Scholastic Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 31st. Scholastic's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -444.44%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded Scholastic from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, October 5th.

Scholastic 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.