Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ:SCHL) Tender Offer Narrows Near-Term Upside Despite Technical Caution

Scholastic shows mixed operational recovery but faces immediate downward technical momentum and a WMDST valuation that classifies the stock as over-valued.

Recent News

On March 23, 2026 Scholastic announced a modified Dutch-auction tender offer to purchase up to $200 million of common stock at a price not less than $36.00 and not more than $40.00 per share. On April 23, 2026 the company released the final results of that modified Dutch-auction tender offer, disclosing the tender outcome and settled purchase volume and pricing details.

Technical Analysis

ADX stands at 46.37, indicating a very strong directional trend in play; ADX measures trend strength rather than direction.

DI+ shows 31.10 and a decreasing trend, while DI- reads 10.83 and shows an increasing trend; those DI movements communicate a bearish directional tilt as sellers gain relative strength.

MACD equals 0.59 with the MACD trend decreasing and the MACD signal at 0.79; MACD sits below its signal line and is declining, which signals bearish momentum in the shorter term.

MRO registers 25.48 and is decreasing; the positive MRO indicates price sits above the model target and carries scope to decline toward that target as momentum eases.

RSI at 59.32 and falling signals weakening upside momentum from neutral territory rather than an overbought extreme.

Price closed at $39.99, marginally below the 20-day average of $40.01 and above the 50-day average of $37.84 and the 200-day average of $31.08; the 12-day EMA shows a peak-and-reversal pattern, which aligns with recent momentum loss. Price sits inside the Bollinger bands (lower ~$38.93, upper ~$41.09) and above the super-trend support at $38.03, implying defined near-term support but limited upside until momentum indicators recover.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $329.1M with YoY revenue growth of +4.87% and a QoQ change of -127.92%. Gross profit measured $178.8M and gross margin stood at 54.33%, essentially flat YoY (+0.79 percentage points). Operating results show operating income (EBIT) of -$26.9M and an operating margin of -8.17%; operating margin improved YoY by +16.17% but declined QoQ by -149.23%.

Earnings per share came in at -$0.15 versus an estimate of -$0.36, an absolute beat of $0.21 and an EPS surprise of +58.33%. Forward EPS sits at $0.6675, implying a forward P/E near 45.99, while the reported trailing P/E equals 12.90. Book value per share equals $34.27 and the price-to-book ratio reads 0.96, with price-to-sales at 2.54.

Cash and short-term investments total $104.6M with operating cash flow of -$30.5M and free cash flow of -$43.9M, producing a free cash flow yield of -5.25%. The cash conversion cycle measures 134.4 days, well above the industry peer mean of approximately 7.37 days, indicating extended working-capital duration relative to peers. Net debt sits at $284.6M and debt-to-equity equals 0.33; interest coverage remains negative.

Several balance-sheet and efficiency metrics diverge from peer benchmarks: asset turnover equals 0.174 (slightly above the stated peer mean of 0.1115), while inventory turnover remains low at 0.52 versus typical peer turnover multiples. Return on equity equals 7.17% versus the industry peer mean near 3.44%, and return on assets equals 3.31% versus a peer mean near 0.80%.

Valuation context: WMDST values the stock as over-valued. Mixed operating losses, negative free cash flow, an extended cash conversion cycle, and a materially negative enterprise multiple complicate comparables-based valuation despite a trailing P/E of 12.9 and a price-to-book below 1. The forward P/E near 46 reflects expected EPS normalization priced into forward estimates; enterprise and free-cash-flow metrics point toward valuation stress absent sustained cash-flow improvement.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2026-02-28
REPORT DATE: 2026-03-19
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-06-18
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 99.3 M
 Operating Cash Flow -30.50 M
 Capital Expenditures -13.40 M
 Change In Working Capital -14.60 M
 Dividends Paid -5.10 M
 Cash Flow Delta 5.3 M
 End Period Cash Flow 104.6 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 329.1 M
 Forward Revenue 19.1 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 150.3 M
 Depreciation 23.2 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 23.2 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 356.0 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 178.8 M
 EBITDA -3.70 M
 EBIT -26.90 M
 Operating Income -26.90 M
 Interest Income -800.00 K
 Interest Expense
 Net Interest Income -800.00 K
 Income Before Tax 91.8 M
 Tax Provision 29.3 M
 Tax Rate 31.9 %
 Net Income 62.5 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 62.5 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate -0.36
 EPS Actual -0.15
 EPS Difference 0.21
 EPS Surprise 58.333 %
 Forward EPS 0.67
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 1.8 B
 Intangible Assets 282.0 M
 Net Tangible Assets 589.9 M
 Total Current Assets 735.3 M
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 104.6 M
 Cash 104.6 M
 Net Receivables 248.3 M
 Inventory 282.5 M
 Long-Term Investments 97.3 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 128.5 M
 Short-Term Debt 5.6 M
 Total Current Liabilities 621.1 M
 Net Debt
 Total Debt 284.6 M
 Total Liabilities 908.9 M
EQUITY
 Total Equity 871.9 M
 Retained Earnings 1.0 B
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 34.27
 Shares Outstanding 21.742 M
 Revenue Per-Share 12.94
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 837.0 M
 Enterprise Value 1.0 B
 Enterprise Multiple -274.874
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -3166.621 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY -360.474 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 24.721
median: 24.721
mean: 24.444
low: -6.232
SCHL: -274.874
 EV/R 3.09
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.042
 Asset To Liability 1.959
 Debt To Capital 0.246
 Debt To Assets 0.16
Debt To Assets QoQ -17.444 %
Debt To Assets YoY 5299.324 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.626
mean: 0.42
median: 0.364
SCHL: 0.16
low: 0.001
 Debt To Equity 0.326
Debt To Equity QoQ -21.277 %
Debt To Equity YoY 5198.864 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 5.909
mean: 2.1
median: 1.072
SCHL: 0.326
low: -0.004
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 0.96
Price To Book QoQ 25.921 %
Price To Book YoY 60.285 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 1.731
mean: 1.301
median: 1.19
SCHL: 0.96
low: -0.006
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 12.902
Price To Earnings QoQ 18.828 %
Price To Earnings YoY -103.054 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 128.489
median: 37.17
mean: 34.383
low: 16.766
SCHL: 12.902
 PE/G Ratio 0.737
 Price To Sales (P/S) 2.543
Price To Sales QoQ 97.438 %
Price To Sales YoY 51.311 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 3.339
median: 3.339
mean: 3.066
SCHL: 2.543
low: 0.008
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 45.993
Forward PE/G 2.626
Forward P/S 35.704
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 3.212
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.174
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ -37.534 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 3.916 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.178
SCHL: 0.174
median: 0.118
mean: 0.112
low: 0.063
 Receivables Turnover 1.208
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ -47.002 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY -1.14 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 7.651
mean: 2.599
median: 2.251
SCHL: 1.208
low: 1.198
 Inventory Turnover 0.524
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ -28.764 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY -6.241 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 6.335
median: 6.335
mean: 6.148
low: 5.299
SCHL: 0.524
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 75.529
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 134.4
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -7.158 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY 5.845 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA SCHL: 134.4
high: 42.547
median: 7.886
mean: 7.371
low: -17.812
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 2.882
 CapEx To Revenue -0.041
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.578
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 871.9 M
 Net Invested Capital 877.5 M
 Invested Capital 877.5 M
 Net Tangible Assets 589.9 M
 Net Working Capital 114.2 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.168
 Current Ratio 1.184
Current Ratio QoQ -29.093 %
Current Ratio YoY -3.554 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 5.858
SCHL: 1.184
median: 0.865
mean: 0.771
low: 0.401
 Quick Ratio 0.729
Quick Ratio QoQ -41.292 %
Quick Ratio YoY -7.529 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 2.823
median: 2.823
mean: 2.416
SCHL: 0.729
low: 0.566
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA -76.919
 Cost Of Debt 0.893 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio -6.114
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -129.399 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY 13.983 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 3.62
median: 3.498
mean: 3.278
low: -0.262
SCHL: -6.114
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.188
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 57.051
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 12.255
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.082
 Dividend Rate 0.20
 Dividend Yield 0.006
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -10.71 %
 Revenue Growth -40.283 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -127.92 %
Revenue Growth YoY 4.865 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: -0.029 %
mean: -2.089 %
median: -2.64 %
low: -12.563 %
SCHL: -40.283 %
 Earnings Growth 17.512 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -108.67 %
Earnings Growth YoY -117.044 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA SCHL: 17.512 %
high: -5.952 %
mean: -7.24 %
median: -11.315 %
low: -41.21 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 54.33 %
Gross Margin QoQ -8.015 %
Gross Margin YoY 0.787 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 73.4 %
median: 65.4 %
mean: 63.609 %
low: 56.777 %
SCHL: 54.33 %
 EBIT Margin -8.174 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -149.232 %
EBIT Margin YoY 16.174 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 31.042 %
mean: 14.474 %
median: 12.166 %
low: -2.058 %
SCHL: -8.174 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) -8.174 %
Return On Sales QoQ -149.232 %
Return On Sales YoY 16.174 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 25.326 %
mean: 15.433 %
median: 13.145 %
SCHL: -8.174 %
low: -16.296 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) -43.90 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield -5.245 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -158.919 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY -19.641 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 8.652 %
mean: 3.956 %
median: 3.714 %
SCHL: -5.245 %
low: -1855.379 %
 Free Cash Growth -169.462 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ 0.365 %
Free Cash Growth YoY 5.238 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 222.066 %
mean: 38.504 %
median: -10.691 %
low: -27.552 %
SCHL: -169.462 %
 Free Cash To Net Income -0.702
 Cash Flow Margin 35.552 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 1.872
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.03
 Return On Assets (ROA) 3.311 %
Return On Assets QoQ 16.955 %
Return On Assets YoY -1939.444 %
Return On Assets IPRWA SCHL: 3.311 %
high: 0.816 %
median: 0.816 %
mean: 0.802 %
low: -1.828 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) -2.32 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.072
Return On Equity QoQ 19.407 %
Return On Equity YoY -1976.44 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.081
SCHL: 0.072
mean: 0.034
median: 0.025
low: 0.024
 DuPont ROE 6.933 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) -2.087 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -137.556 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -113.103 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 2.031 %
mean: 1.654 %
median: 1.552 %
low: 0.977 %
SCHL: -2.087 %

Six-Week Outlook

Near-term momentum appears biased lower until MACD and RSI reverse and DI+ shows a renewed increase; the very strong ADX suggests any directional move may carry momentum once established. Price sits marginally below short-term moving-average resistance and above clear support near $38.0; reduced volume relative to longer averages implies limited conviction behind recent moves. For swing timeframes, expect constrained upside while MRO remains positive and declining and while MACD sits below its signal line; downside risk concentrates toward the mid-to-high $30s if momentum indicators continue to deteriorate, while recovery of DI+ and a rising MACD would be required to re-open conviction for a higher near-term range.

About Scholastic Corporation

Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ:SCHL) publishes and distributes children’s books on a global scale. The company operates through three primary segments: Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution, Education Solutions, and International. Within the Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment, Scholastic creates and distributes children’s print, digital, and audio books, along with media and interactive products. This segment also manages school-based book clubs and book fairs across the United States, featuring popular series such as Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Clifford The Big Red Dog. The Education Solutions segment delivers classroom magazines under well-known names like Scholastic News and Junior Scholastic, along with supplemental classroom materials, programs, and related support services. It also offers print and online reference materials and consulting services. Internationally, Scholastic publishes children’s books in English, Hindi, and French, utilizing school-based marketing channels to supply both original and licensed titles, as well as educational materials for teachers. The company reaches schools, libraries, and consumers directly through retail outlets and online platforms. Founded in 1920, Scholastic Corporation maintains its headquarters in New York, New York.



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