BNED

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

Fundamental data last updated:June 14, 2026

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company profile

SECTOR

Consumer Cyclical

industry

Specialty Retail

Exchange

NYSE

County of HQ

US

Next Earnings Date

07/01/2026

Business Summary

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. operates bookstores for college and university campuses, and K-12 institutions in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Digital Student Solutions. The company sells and rents new and used print textbooks, digital textbooks, and publisher hosted digital courseware through physical and virtual bookstores, as well as directly to students through Textbooks.com. It also offers First Day and First Day Complete access programs; BNC OER+, a turnkey solution for colleges and universities, that offers digital content, such as videos, activities, and auto-graded practice assessments; and general merchandise, including collegiate and athletic apparel, school spirit products, lifestyle products, technology products, supplies, graduation products, and convenience items. In addition, the company sources, sells, and distributes new and used textbooks; and sells hardware and a software suite of applications that provides inventory management and point-of-sale solutions to approximately 350 college bookstores. Further, it offers direct-to-student subscription-based writing services; and bartleby, a direct-to-student subscription-based offering that includes textbook solutions, expert questions and answers, and writing and tutoring services. The company operates 805 physical college and university bookstores; 622 virtual bookstores; 8 True Spirit e-commerce websites; pop-up retail locations; 73 customized cafés and 11 stand-alone convenience stores; and a media channel for brands targeting the college demographic. Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

 


VALUATION

P/E

-36.21

Market Cap ($M USD)

$353.42M

Forward P/E

-24.25

PEG

0.49

PRICE TO SALES

0.20

PRICE TO BOOK

1.22

EV / EBITDA

19.90

5-Year Average P/E

Free Cash Flow Yield

1.98%

DCF Value

$57.52

Graham Number

N/A

Price to FCF

50.58

EV to FCF

94.36

Earnings Yield

-2.76%

FCF Yield

1.98%

DIVIDEND

Yield

0.00%

Annual Payout

$0.00

Payout Ratio

0.00%

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

-$0.28

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

-$0.43

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

$163.63B

Return on Equity (ROE)

-3.56%

FREE CASH FLOW

Operating Margin

3.60%

Debt-to-Equity

1.04

Piotroski F-Score

5

Altman Z-Score

1.17

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

11.30%

Current Ratio

1.42

Quick Ratio

0.86

Net Debt to EBITDA

9.23

Interest Coverage

5.81

Gross Profit margin

19.15%

FCF PER SHARE

$0.20

REVENUE PER SHARE

$50.10

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

The market appears to be significantly undervaluing Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., as indicated by its DCF value, which far exceeds the recent pricing. Despite a negative Forward P/E and Earnings Yield, suggesting current profitability challenges, the PEG ratio under 1.0 hints at potential undervaluation relative to growth. However, the Altman Z-score of 1.18 raises red flags about financial distress risk. Overall, the stock’s valuation metrics suggest a complex picture of potential growth overshadowed by financial instability.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

Operating in the specialty retail sector, Barnes & Noble Education is positioned to leverage AI and tech advancements to enhance its digital offerings and streamline operations. As educational content increasingly shifts online, the company could capitalize on tech-driven efficiencies. However, its adaptability will depend on strategic investments in technology.

The Bull Case

For the value or GARP investor, Barnes & Noble Education presents an intriguing opportunity. With an ROIC of 11.3%, the company demonstrates efficient capital use, while a Piotroski F-Score of 5 indicates moderate financial health. The FCF Yield, though modest, suggests some cash flow generation capability. Combined with a reasonable operating margin of 3.6%, these metrics hint at underlying pricing power and operational efficiency.

The Bear Case

Despite some strengths, the stock is not without significant risks. The negative EPS and high EV to EBITDA ratio of 20.12 signal profitability issues. Its Price to FCF of over 51 suggests the stock is expensive relative to its cash flow generation. Additionally, the Altman Z-score indicates potential financial distress, and the stock's proximity to its 52-week high suggests it may be technically overextended.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

Analyst Consensus

Hold

Average Analyst Price Target

$2.38

Institutional Ownership %

1-Year Beta

1.35

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

Distance to 52-Week High

18.49%

Distance to 52-Week Low

42.75%

EARNINGS SURPRISE %

N/A

50-DAY SMA

$9.78

200-DAY SMA

$9.00

⚠️ Financial Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate. We may earn a commission from partner links.