HarperCollins quarterly global profits up 32%

Higher sales have pushed profits at HarperCollins globally up 32% in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to the same period in fiscal 2016.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) for the quarter, for the three months ended 31st December 2016, came in at $75m, up $18m from $57m the previous year, parent company News Corp has reported. Sales for the quarter rose by 4%, increasing by $20m to $466m.

Revenue growth was attributed primarily to the continued popularity of Jesus Calling and Jesus Always by Sarah Young and Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance, "strong" sales from frontlist titles such as The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines, Chaos by Patricia Cornwell, The Midnight Gang by David Walliams and Settle for More by Megyn Kelly, as well as the continued expansion of HarperCollins’ global footprint.  

Digital sales increased 3% compared to the prior year, representing 16% of HC revenues for the quarter.