Barnes & Noble Education, Inc - BNED STOCK NEWS

Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) reported significant growth in its First Day® affordable access programs. First Day® Complete, offered at 183 campus stores serving 925,000 students in fall 2024 (up from 800,000 in 2023), provides all course materials in one bundle at 35-50% savings. Eight additional campus stores will join in spring 2025. The company's First Day® (by Course) program expanded to 230 campus stores. Q2 FY2025 First Day program revenues increased 18% YOY to $235 million. Student survey results showed strong satisfaction: 91% found the bundled materials convenient, 84% felt better prepared, and 81% reported positive impact on academic success.

Barnes & Noble College (BNC) has announced a renewed partnership with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) to manage its campus bookstore, transitioning operations in November. The partnership includes implementing BNC's First Day® Complete program for Spring 2025, offering students a 35-50% savings on course materials. The bookstore will feature an expanded selection of Aggie apparel and merchandise through BNC's alliance with Fanatics and Lids. N.C. A&T, the largest public HBCU in the country, joins 19 other HBCU institutions partnering with BNC, which operates 657 campus stores nationwide.

Barnes & Noble College (BNC) has partnered with Syracuse University to manage all course materials, retail, and e-commerce operations for the University's Campus Store. BNC will begin transitioning store operations in November 2024. The partnership will provide students with enhanced access to course materials through BNC's First Day® programs, digital platforms, and rental options. Through partnerships with Fanatics and Lids, the store will offer expanded Syracuse merchandise, including exclusive collections and collaborations with brands like Nike, Mitchell & Ness, and Carmelo Anthony. The store will feature unified omnichannel experiences and support Syracuse Athletics through various retail locations.

Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) reported preliminary Q2 FY2025 results showing significant improvements. The company's First Day® Program revenues increased 18% YOY to $235 million. Despite operating 109 fewer stores, overall revenue remained flat year-over-year. Net Income is expected to reach mid to high $40 million, representing a mid-70% to mid-90% increase YOY, driven by comparable store growth and improved cost management. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to reach mid to high $60 million range. Final unaudited Q2 results will be released in early December 2024.

Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) reported Q1 FY2025 results with revenue slightly decreasing by 0.3% to $263.4 million. The company's BNC First Day program revenues increased by 32%, offsetting declines from store closures. Net loss was $99.5 million, impacted by one-time expenses related to equity and refinancing transactions. Adjusted EBITDA improved by $5.2 million to $(20.7) million.

BNED is implementing cost-saving initiatives expected to drive over $10 million in go-forward savings. The company anticipates spending $20 million on capital expenditures in FY2025, focusing on store improvements and technology. While not providing formal guidance, management targets material improvement in FY2025 GAAP operating results and Adjusted EBITDA compared to last year.

Immersion (NASDAQ: IMMR) reported strong Q2 2024 financial results, with total revenues reaching $99.4 million, up from $7.0 million in Q2 2023. GAAP net income attributable to Immersion stockholders was $28.9 million ($0.89 per diluted share), while non-GAAP net income was $37.0 million ($1.14 per diluted share). The company's standalone royalty and license revenue increased to $52.4 million. Immersion also acquired a 42% stake in Barnes & Noble Education, gaining control through board appointments. The company's non-GAAP stockholders' equity grew by $53.0 million to $236.1 million. A quarterly dividend of $0.045 per share was declared, payable on October 18, 2024.

Barnes & Noble College (BNC), a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), has expanded its dorm and campus living category for back-to-school. The new collection features premium brands like Dormify, Therapedic®, Rhino Trunk & Case, and Lifelines™. Available both in-store and online, the assortment includes bedding, bath items, storage solutions, and furnishings designed for small-space living without compromising style.

The expanded merchandise is available at 60 campus bookstores nationwide, with full-room showcase displays at select universities. BNC's retail program aims to simplify college shopping by offering convenient online ordering with in-store pickup options. The collection includes stylish and practical items such as storage bins, multi-purpose carts, lamps, and bedding bundles, focusing on form and function to enhance students' living spaces.

Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) has reported its FY2024 financial results, marking a 1.6% revenue increase to $1.57 billion, fueled by a 48% growth in First Day Complete® revenue. Despite this, the company reported a net loss of $62.5 million, which is an improvement from the previous year's loss of $90.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $45.2 million from a loss of $8.1 million last year.

The company experienced a decline in physical locations, contributing to the revenue growth being partially offset. Net debt increased to $187.1 million, influenced by tighter vendor payables during bank refinancing.

Key recent transactions include an $80 million cash infusion and a new $325 million credit facility, aimed at reducing interest costs. The company completed a 1-for-100 reverse stock split in June 2024, leaving approximately 26.2 million outstanding shares.

Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) has announced Jonathan Shar as its new CEO, effective June 11, 2024. Shar will succeed Michael P. Huseby, who has resigned from the position. The announcement marks a significant leadership transition aimed at driving the company's growth and profitability. Shar brings extensive experience, having previously served as President of Barnes & Noble College and Executive Vice President of BNED Retail. He has played a important role in overseeing physical campus bookstores and e-commerce sites, and in developing client-focused solutions such as BNED's First Day® Complete. Huseby acknowledged the company's solid financial standing following recent equity investment and bank refinancing transactions.