SCHL 8-K Filed 2026-07-23 Execution disclosure

Scholastic repurchased 7.3M shares for $269M in fiscal 2026

Publishing company returned $288.6M to shareholders via buybacks and dividends; $183M remains authorized

Shares repurchased7.3M
Avg price paid$36.62
Remaining$183M
MechanismOpen-market purchases and modi

What the filing says

Scholastic Corporation completed a substantial share-repurchase program during fiscal 2026, buying back 7,336,966 shares of common stock for a total of $268.6 million. The repurchases were executed through a combination of open-market purchases and shares acquired in a modified Dutch auction tender offer. The company also returned $20.0 million in dividends, bringing total shareholder returns for the fiscal year to approximately $288.6 million.

The buyback activity was funded in part by proceeds from the company's sale-leaseback transactions of its New York City and Jefferson City, Missouri facilities, which generated over $452 million in net cash proceeds in December 2025. Following these capital-return activities, Scholastic ended fiscal 2026 with a net cash position of $48.9 million, compared to a net debt position of $136.6 million at the end of fiscal 2025.

As of May 31, 2026, $183.0 million remained authorized for future repurchases under the company's stock repurchase program. Management indicated it expects to continue purchasing shares opportunistically on the open market or in negotiated private transactions, subject to business conditions. The company did not disclose a specific dollar authorization for a new program in this filing.

In fiscal 2026, the Company returned approximately $288.6 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. This included the repurchase of 7,336,966 shares of common stock for $268.6 million, including shares purchased through the Company's modified Dutch auction tender offer and open-market repurchases, and $20.0 million of dividends. — SCHOLASTIC CORP 8-K filing  ·  View on SEC EDGAR →

What this means

Scholastic's fiscal 2026 buyback represented a disciplined capital-allocation response to improved liquidity from its real-estate transactions. At an average repurchase price of $36.62 per share, the company retired 7.3 million shares, reducing its diluted share count from approximately 26.2 million to 21.0 million over the past year. The $183 million remaining authorization provides ongoing flexibility for opportunistic repurchases, though execution will depend on cash generation from operations and management's assessment of valuation. This buyback occurred alongside a weak operating period—fiscal 2026 revenues declined 3%—suggesting the company prioritized balance-sheet improvement and shareholder returns over reinvestment in growth initiatives.

Frequently asked questions

How much did Scholastic pay per share on average in the buyback?
Scholastic repurchased 7.3 million shares for $268.6 million, equating to an average price of approximately $36.62 per share. This execution occurred both through open-market purchases and a modified Dutch auction tender offer.
What triggered the large share repurchase in fiscal 2026?
The company completed sale-leaseback transactions of its facilities in December 2025, generating over $452 million in net proceeds. Management deployed a significant portion of these proceeds toward share repurchases and dividends, returning approximately $288.6 million to shareholders in total during the year.
How much authorization remains for future buybacks?
As of May 31, 2026, $183 million remained authorized for future repurchases under Scholastic's stock repurchase program. The company stated it expects to continue purchasing shares opportunistically on the open market or in negotiated private transactions as conditions allow.
Did Scholastic announce a new buyback program in this filing?
No new authorization or program expansion was announced in this fiscal 2026 results filing. The company reported on execution of its existing program and disclosed the remaining $183 million in authorized capacity but did not seek additional authorization.
How does the buyback compare to Scholastic's overall shareholder returns?
Share repurchases of $268.6 million made up the bulk of Scholastic's $288.6 million in total shareholder returns during fiscal 2026, with dividends accounting for $20 million. The company also deployed capital to strengthen its balance sheet, reducing net debt to a positive $48.9 million position.
What is Scholastic's business context going into fiscal 2027?
Scholastic is a global children's publishing, education, and media company that has undergone significant organizational and balance-sheet transformation. For fiscal 2027, the company expects revenue growth of 2% to 4% and Adjusted EBITDA of $135–$145 million, indicating management's focus on returning to growth while maintaining disciplined cost management.
execution share-repurchase dutch-auction-tender open-market publishing-sector capital-return
Source. This editorial summary is based on the SEC filing linked above. BuybackStocks aggregates and editorializes publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. Not investment advice. Past authorization announcements do not guarantee future repurchase activity or share price performance. See our full disclosures policy.