Why Some Of The Largest Book Publishers Are Hiring AI EngineersPublishing giants like Penguin Random House and Macmillan are eager to use AI internally—but not for writing or editing. Their authors still might revolt. https://t.co/fiUl6JA1BW (Photo: PA Images via Getty Images) https://t.co/EEP4Dj5XOU ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in short-term investing, highlighting that while price momentum can be profitable, it requires strong fundamentals to maintain that momentum. Group 1: Stock Price Movement - A stock's price can quickly reverse after a position is taken, leading to short-term capital losses, making it crucial to have factors that support ongoing momentum [2] - The "Recent Price Strength" screen helps identify stocks with strong fundamentals that can sustain their upward trends, focusing on those trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range [3] Group 2: Scholastic (SCHL) Analysis - Scholastic (SCHL) has shown a solid price increase of 20.5% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4] - In addition to the 12-week increase, SCHL has maintained a price increase of 4.6% over the last four weeks, suggesting the trend is still intact [5] - SCHL is currently trading at 91.4% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [6] Group 3: Fundamental Strength - SCHL holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6] - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term performance [7] Group 4: Additional Insights - The price trend for SCHL is expected to remain positive, and there are other stocks that also meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [8] - The effectiveness of stock-picking strategies can be backtested using tools like the Zacks Research Wizard, which includes successful stock-picking strategies [9]

Core Insights - News Corp reported a revenue increase of 5.5% to $2.36 billion in the second quarter of its fiscal year, driven by growth in its Dow Jones and digital real estate divisions [1][4] - EBITDA for the quarter rose by 9% to $521 million, slightly exceeding analysts' expectations [1][2] Revenue Breakdown - Revenue from Dow Jones, which includes The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch, increased by 8% year-over-year to $648 million [4] - Revenue from News Corp's digital real estate services division also rose by 8% to $511 million [4] CEO Statements - CEO Robert Thomson expressed satisfaction with the second quarter results, highlighting accelerating revenue and profitability growth compared to the previous quarter, and optimistic signs for the second half of the fiscal year [2] - Thomson emphasized the importance of AI firms compensating for the content they utilize, reiterating this message in light of ongoing discussions about AI's impact on the industry [5][6] Industry Context - The results come amid challenges faced by news organizations and publishers regarding the integration of artificial intelligence [5] - Thomson noted that companies are beginning to recognize the value of premium content, suggesting that there will be a willingness to pay a premium for quality content [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues increased by 6% to $2.4 billion for the quarter, with total segment EBITDA expanding by 9% to $521 million, despite a one-time inventory-related charge at HarperCollins [4][20] - Net income from continuing operations was $242 million, a 21% decrease from the prior year, attributed to the absence of a favorable $87 million gain from the sale of PropertyGuru [4][21] - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $0.40, compared to $0.33 in the prior quarter, with profitability margin rising from 21.4% to 22.1% [4][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - **Dow Jones**: Revenues rose by 8% to $648 million, with segment EBITDA increasing by 10% to $191 million, achieving a record profit margin of 29.5% [21][24] - **Digital Real Estate Services**: Segment revenues grew by 8% to $511 million, with segment EBITDA up 11% to $206 million [25][20] - **Book Publishing**: Revenues increased by 6% to $633 million, although segment EBITDA declined by 2% to $99 million due to a one-time write-off [29][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S. market, Realtor.com saw revenues grow by 10% to $143 million, driven by improved lead volume and premium products [11][26] - In Australia, REA's revenues grew by 7% to $368 million, benefiting from yield growth and improved listing volumes [12][25] - Digital advertising revenue at Dow Jones reached a record level of $87 million, rising 12% supported by demand from the financial services sector [8][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming into a digital-first entity, increasing recurring revenues while reducing dependence on advertising [5][19] - There is a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and margin expansion, with a disciplined approach to capital expenditures [18][19] - The company is exploring AI partnerships to enhance its content offerings and is confident in its ability to monetize proprietary content in the evolving AI landscape [6][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for the second half of the fiscal year, citing strong performance in core business segments and a robust balance sheet [4][16] - The evolving impact of AI is acknowledged, with management confident in the company's unique content and its ability to meet the needs of AI companies [35][39] - The company anticipates continued strong revenue growth in B2B segments, particularly at Dow Jones, and is focused on maximizing shareholder value through share buybacks [19][51] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $172 million in shares during the quarter, significantly higher than the previous year [20][51] - The launch of the California Post is highlighted as a strategic move to enhance the company's media presence [15][16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Market reaction to AI and its implications for News Corp - Management clarified that AI's retrospective nature does not pose a significant threat, as the company produces contemporary, proprietary content that AI companies need to pay for [33][34] Question: Investment in Dow Jones and CapEx related to AI - Management expressed confidence in Dow Jones and indicated that CapEx for Dow Jones would be modestly down this year, while overall free cash flow is expected to grow [38][41] Question: M&A strategy and areas of interest - Management stated that they are constantly looking for reasonable investments but will prioritize organic growth and share buybacks [49][50] Question: Simplifying the company structure - Management emphasized a focus on generating long-term value and highlighted the positive trajectory of Realtor.com amidst competition [54][56] Question: Subscription revenue growth and pricing strategy at Dow Jones - Management noted that there is potential for price elasticity in subscriptions and highlighted the success in securing enterprise customers [63][66]

The Economist is hiring an intern to spend three months in London writing about science and technology. Apply by March 6th https://t.co/p4VobSmcTI ...

Publishing giants like Penguin Random House and Macmillan are eager to use AI internally—but not for writing or editing. Their authors still might revolt. https://t.co/fiUl6JA1BW(📸: PA Images via Getty Images) https://t.co/VjsbCaoXP7 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a solid fourth quarter with $1.8 billion in revenue, of which $1.1 billion was digital revenue, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth [15][14] - Adjusted EBITDA for the year was $331 million, with digital EBITDA margins remaining flat year-over-year at 28% [15][14] - In Q4, adjusted EBITDA grew 9% in digital, with incremental digital margins at 26% [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital revenue grew by 14% in Q4, driven by advertising (up 9%), performance marketing (up 17%), and licensing (up 36%) [13][14] - The print segment saw a decline of 23%, attributed to a prior period's political advertising revenue and ongoing sectoral decline [14] - Care revenue declined by 9% in Q4, with enterprise revenue down 13% due to tightened employer benefits spending [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core web sessions decreased by 13% year-over-year, primarily due to a 50% drop in Google Search referrals over the last two years [19] - Non-session-based revenue sources now comprise about 38% of total digital revenue, growing 37% year-over-year in Q4 [21] - Off-platform views nearly doubled in the last two years, with a 43% year-over-year growth last quarter [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming traditional content businesses into new consumer products and services, aiming for stronger revenue streams [5][11] - There is a significant emphasis on off-platform strategies and expanding brand presence across social media and other platforms [4][20] - The company plans to continue evaluating buybacks and is optimistic about the growth potential in its People segment [12][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate AI disruptions and highlighted the strength of its brands [4][12] - The outlook for 2026 is bullish, with expectations for People to exceed conservative guidance due to strong momentum [32] - Management noted that the advertising market remains generally favorable, with specific strengths in health, pharma, and travel sectors [94] Other Important Information - The company will stop providing quarterly guidance to focus on long-term value creation, while still offering annual guidance [26] - The company expects litigation expenses related to Google AdTech litigation to impact corporate expenses significantly [27] - Corporate adjusted EBITDA was $23 million, down from the previous year, as the company continues to reduce overhead [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could you elaborate on the key drivers of non-session-based revenue growth? - Management highlighted that the growth is driven by diversifying traffic sources and developing new distribution channels, moving away from reliance on Google [34][36] Question: What are IAC's M&A aspirations? - Management indicated interest in finding unique opportunities like MGM but noted a lack of attractive options currently available [50] Question: How scalable are the new curated experiences at People? - Management emphasized the importance of direct relationships with audiences and advertisers, noting strong engagement metrics from new products like MyRecipes and the People app [61][62] Question: What is the outlook for the Care segment? - Management expects Care revenue to return to growth by midyear, driven by product improvements and marketing investments [23] Question: Can you provide an update on the Google litigation? - Management stated that the litigation is based on antitrust claims against Google, with expectations to recover significant damages [86][87]

New York Times Co. reported fourth-quarter earnings and sales that beat analysts’ expectations as the company continues to woo subscribers with a mix of news, podcasts, cooking recipes and games. https://t.co/oEmFfMpq6i ...

Why Some Of The Largest Book Publishers Are Hiring AI EngineersPublishing giants like Penguin Random House and Macmillan are eager to use AI internally—but not for writing or editing. Their authors still might revolt. https://t.co/fiUl6JA1BW (Photo: PA Images via Getty Images) https://t.co/hpWkp82Vih ...

RT Rashi Shrivastava (@RashiShrivast18)Major book publishers like Penguin Random House, Macmillan and Wiley are hiring senior AI engineers, according to job listings reviewed by Forbes. Amid pushback from writers, publishers are eager to field test AI tools for back office efficiency.https://t.co/H79MVaEDCa ...