Scholastic Corp Valuation – Initial Coverage $SCHL
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Stocks for Using A Benjamin Graham Value Investing Strategy – December 2016. By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Scholastic Corp (SCHL) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Scholastic Corporation is a publisher and distributor of children’s books, a provider of print and digital instructional materials for pre-kindergarten (pre-K) to grade 12, and a producer of educational and entertaining children’s media. The Company operates through three segments: Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution, Education and International. The Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment includes the publication and distribution of children’s books, e-books, media and interactive products in the United States through its book clubs and book fairs in its school channels and through the trade channel. The Education segment includes publication and distribution to schools and libraries of children’s books, classroom magazines, supplemental classroom materials, and print and online reference and non-fiction products for grades pre-K to 12 in the United States. The International segment includes its international operations, and export and foreign rights businesses.
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Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:
ModernGraham Valuation of SCHL December 2016
Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?
What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?
| Defensive Investor; must pass 6 out of the following 7 tests. | ||||
| 1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise | Market Cap > $2Bil | $1,650,068,127 | Fail | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 2 | 2.10 | Pass | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 10 years prior | Fail | ||
| 4. Dividend Record | Dividend Payments for 10 years prior | Fail | ||
| 5. Earnings Growth | Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end | 1555.71% | Pass | |
| 6. Moderate PEmg Ratio | PEmg < 20 | 16.28 | Pass | |
| 7. Moderate Price to Assets | PB Ratio < 2.5 OR PB*PEmg < 50 | 1.31 | Pass | |
| Enterprising Investor; must pass 4 out of the following 5 tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor. | ||||
| 1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 1.5 | 2.10 | Pass | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Debt to NCA < 1.1 | 0.00 | Pass | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 5 years prior | Pass | ||
| 4. Dividend Record | Currently Pays Dividend | Pass | ||
| 5. Earnings Growth | EPSmg greater than 5 years ago | Pass | ||
Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value
| EPSmg | $2.86 |
| MG Growth Estimate | 12.09% |
| MG Value | $93.39 |
| Opinion | Undervalued |
| MG Grade | C+ |
| MG Value based on 3% Growth | $41.43 |
| MG Value based on 0% Growth | $24.29 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 3.89% |
| Current Price | $46.53 |
| % of Intrinsic Value | 49.82% |
Scholastic Corp is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the small size, insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years, and the poor dividend history. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.58 in 2013 to an estimated $2.86 for 2017. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 3.89% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Scholastic Corp revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $35.99. The company pays a dividend of $0.6 per share, for a yield of 1.3% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 16.28, which was above the industry average of 8.41. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $13.16.
Scholastic Corp receives an average overall rating in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a C+.
Stage 3: Information for Further Research
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | $13.16 |
| Graham Number | $35.99 |
| PEmg | 16.28 |
| Current Ratio | 2.10 |
| PB Ratio | 1.31 |
| Current Dividend | $0.60 |
| Dividend Yield | 1.29% |
| Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth | 0 |
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Useful Links:
| ModernGraham tagged articles | Morningstar |
| Google Finance | MSN Money |
| Yahoo Finance | Seeking Alpha |
| GuruFocus | SEC Filings |
Most Recent Balance Sheet Figures
| Balance Sheet Information | 8/1/2016 |
| Total Current Assets | $1,009,300,000 |
| Total Current Liabilities | $481,100,000 |
| Long-Term Debt | $0 |
| Total Assets | $1,775,200,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $122,600,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $556,600,000 |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) | 34,400,000 |
Earnings Per Share History
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $1.63 |
| May2016 | $1.16 |
| May2015 | $8.80 |
| May2014 | $1.36 |
| May2013 | $0.95 |
| May2012 | $3.21 |
| May2011 | $1.16 |
| May2010 | $1.52 |
| May2009 | -$0.38 |
| May2008 | -$0.44 |
| May2007 | $1.42 |
| May2006 | $1.63 |
| May2005 | $0.08 |
| May2004 | $1.44 |
| May2003 | $1.46 |
| May2002 | $2.31 |
| May2001 | $0.94 |
| May2000 | $1.48 |
| May1999 | $1.10 |
| May1998 | $0.73 |
| May1997 | $0.01 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham History
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $2.86 |
| May2016 | $3.35 |
| May2015 | $3.99 |
| May2014 | $1.60 |
| May2013 | $1.58 |
| May2012 | $1.60 |
| May2011 | $0.75 |
| May2010 | $0.62 |
| May2009 | $0.26 |
| May2008 | $0.66 |
| May2007 | $1.21 |
| May2006 | $1.20 |
| May2005 | $1.07 |
| May2004 | $1.56 |
| May2003 | $1.56 |
| May2002 | $1.51 |
| May2001 | $1.03 |
Recommended Reading:
Other ModernGraham posts about the company
None. Â This is the first time ModernGraham has covered the company.
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Disclaimer:
The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  See my current holdings here.  This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.  ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner.  Please be sure to review our detailed disclaimer.
