Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio -657.8x · EV/EBITDA 10.2x · ROE -0.2%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $1.1B | $477M | $1.1B | $1.5B | $1.3B | $1.2B | $1.0B | $1.2B | $1.6B | $1.5B | $1.4B |
| Enterprise Value | $1.3B | $728M | $1.1B | $1.4B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $635M | $868M | $1.2B | $1.1B | $969M |
| P/E Ratio → | -657.85 | — | 90.70 | 17.06 | 16.53 | — | — | 75.20 | — | 28.93 | 33.66 |
| P/S Ratio | 0.67 | 0.29 | 0.69 | 0.87 | 0.81 | 0.89 | 0.68 | 0.72 | 0.97 | 0.87 | 0.81 |
| P/B Ratio | 1.32 | 0.50 | 1.08 | 1.26 | 1.10 | 0.98 | 0.86 | 0.93 | 1.19 | 1.15 | 1.08 |
| P/FCF | 15.22 | 6.63 | 11.46 | 16.96 | 7.26 | 48.54 | — | 55.36 | 78.73 | 19.91 | — |
| P/OCF | 8.82 | 3.84 | 7.13 | 9.90 | 5.91 | 16.27 | 484.40 | 10.18 | 11.13 | 10.66 | — |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 0.45 | 0.70 | 0.79 | 0.68 | 0.82 | 0.43 | 0.52 | 0.73 | 0.61 | 0.58 |
| EV / EBITDA | 10.23 | 5.53 | 10.32 | 6.90 | 5.82 | 8.98 | 11.40 | 7.23 | 8.66 | 7.05 | 6.15 |
| EV / EBIT | 63.21 | 43.06 | 61.40 | 11.87 | 12.06 | — | — | 30.78 | 2381.30 | 11.84 | 13.67 |
| EV / FCF | — | 10.11 | 11.55 | 15.54 | 6.07 | 45.01 | — | 40.56 | 59.53 | 14.12 | — |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 51.7% | 51.7% | 52.1% | 50.6% | 49.9% | 44.1% | 45.4% | 49.5% | 51.7% | 51.0% | 52.1% |
| Operating Margin | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 2.6% | -2.3% | 2.3% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.5% |
| Net Profit Margin | -0.1% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 5.1% | 4.9% | -0.8% | -2.9% | 0.9% | -0.3% | 3.0% | 2.6% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | -0.2% | -0.2% | 1.1% | 7.2% | 6.7% | -0.9% | -3.6% | 1.2% | -0.4% | 4.1% | 3.5% |
| ROA | -0.1% | -0.1% | 0.7% | 4.5% | 4.1% | -0.5% | -2.2% | 0.8% | -0.3% | 3.0% | 2.4% |
| ROIC | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 7.8% | 7.7% | 2.6% | -2.9% | 3.0% | 5.9% | 7.8% | 8.8% |
| ROCE | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 2.3% | -2.4% | 2.8% | 5.2% | 6.6% | 7.1% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.24 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 2.85 | 2.85 | 1.13 | 0.52 | 0.51 | 2.37 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.26 | 0.01 | -0.11 | -0.18 | -0.07 | -0.32 | -0.25 | -0.29 | -0.33 | -0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.90 | 1.90 | 0.08 | -0.63 | -1.15 | -0.70 | -6.86 | -2.64 | -2.79 | -2.89 | -2.49 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 3.48 | 0.09 | -1.42 | -1.19 | -3.53 | — | -14.80 | -19.20 | -5.78 | — |
| Interest Coverage | 1.17 | 1.17 | 7.63 | 75.64 | 37.41 | 5.39 | -11.50 | 17.45 | 35.75 | 37.33 | 42.00 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.16 | 1.16 | 1.27 | 0.93 | 1.61 | 1.48 | 2.06 | 1.77 | 2.15 | 2.51 | 2.51 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.76 | 0.76 | 0.77 | 0.93 | 1.15 | 1.09 | 1.52 | 1.18 | 1.49 | 1.78 | 1.79 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.21 | 0.37 | 0.51 | 0.53 | 0.79 | 0.62 | 0.88 | 1.15 | 1.06 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.83 | 0.95 | 0.91 | 0.85 | 0.65 | 0.73 | 0.88 | 0.89 | 0.99 | 0.98 |
| Inventory Turnover | 3.14 | 3.14 | 2.88 | — | 2.92 | 2.70 | 3.00 | 2.58 | 2.67 | 3.02 | 2.95 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 68.08 | 57.45 | 61.45 | 72.47 | 96.81 | 80.95 | 55.19 | 45.93 | 41.75 | 42.83 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 1.8% | 4.7% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | 204.1% | 29.7% | 25.6% | — | — | 135.3% | — | 39.8% | 47.3% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | — | — | 1.1% | 5.9% | 6.0% | — | — | 1.3% | — | 3.5% | 3.0% |
| FCF Yield | 6.6% | 15.1% | 8.7% | 5.9% | 13.8% | 2.1% | — | 1.8% | 1.3% | 5.0% | — |
| Buyback Yield | 6.4% | 14.7% | 14.3% | 9.0% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 3.5% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 8.2% | 19.4% | 16.6% | 10.7% | 4.0% | 1.8% | 5.5% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 1.8% | 2.6% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $28M | $30M | $35M | $36M | $34M | $35M | $36M | $35M | $35M | $35M |
Seasonal Working Capital Volatility
Based on recent financial data, Scholastic's forward P/E of 25.35 suggests that investors are pricing in a recovery in earnings power, yet the negative TTM P/E of -668.75 highlights the extreme volatility in net income caused by the company's highly seasonal school-based business model.
The current P/S ratio of 0.69 indicates that the market assigns a significant discount to Scholastic compared to broader media peers, likely reflecting skepticism regarding the long-term growth of its physical distribution network. This valuation appears to imply that the market views the company as a legacy logistics entity rather than a high-growth intellectual property firm, warranting caution regarding future multiple expansion.
As reported in recent filings, Scholastic's ROIC has fluctuated significantly, ranging from a high of 7.3% in 2024Q2 to a low of -5.8% in 2025Q1, illustrating the difficulty of maintaining consistent capital efficiency within a business model heavily dependent on the academic calendar.
The erratic nature of these returns suggests that the company struggles to generate value above its cost of capital during off-peak quarters when fixed logistical costs remain high. Investors should monitor whether management can improve asset utilization during these periods, as the current trend indicates a decay in compounding potential.
According to recent quarterly data, the company's cash conversion cycle remains exceptionally long, peaking at 773 days in 2026Q1, which underscores the significant working capital burden inherent in managing a vast, school-based inventory network that must be deployed well in advance of revenue recognition.
The high days inventory outstanding (DIO) figures suggest that Scholastic carries substantial risk related to unsold books, which could lead to write-downs if school demand shifts unexpectedly. This inefficiency in working capital management appears to be a structural drag on cash flow, limiting the company's ability to pivot toward more agile, digital-first revenue streams.
Based on reported figures, Scholastic maintains a modest debt-to-equity ratio that peaked at 0.52 in 2026Q1, providing a necessary cushion against the extreme seasonal cash flow volatility that characterizes its core book fair and educational distribution operations throughout the academic year.
This low-leverage profile appears to be a deliberate strategy to mitigate the risks associated with the company's high fixed-cost base and seasonal revenue swings. While this provides stability, it also suggests that management may be prioritizing balance sheet preservation over aggressive investment in digital transformation or market expansion.
As indicated by the company's financial history, the most commonly misapplied metric for Scholastic is the standard operating margin, which fails to account for the extreme seasonal distortion caused by the timing of school-based book fair revenue and the associated high fixed-cost logistical overhead.
Analysts often misinterpret these quarterly margin dips as evidence of permanent operational failure, when they are frequently a function of the academic calendar. A more appropriate approach would involve evaluating margins on a trailing twelve-month basis or adjusting for seasonal inventory deployment to better reflect the underlying earning power of the business.
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SCHL stock.
Scholastic Corporation's current P/E ratio is -657.8x. The historical average is 27.9x.
Scholastic Corporation's current EV/EBITDA is 10.2x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 7.0x.
Scholastic Corporation's return on equity (ROE) is -0.2%. The historical average is 5.9%.
Based on historical data, Scholastic Corporation is trading at a P/E of -657.8x. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Scholastic Corporation's current dividend yield is 1.81%.
Scholastic Corporation has 51.7% gross margin and 1.3% operating margin.
Scholastic Corporation's Debt/EBITDA ratio is 2.8x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio between 2-4x is manageable but warrants monitoring.