In this article we will take a look at some of the biggest publishing companies in the world. If you want to read our analysis about the publishing industry and also see some more publishing companies, go to 10 Biggest Publishing Companies in the World.
5. Penguin Random House
Global Revenue in 2021: €4 billion
Penguin Random House has made its way into the list of the biggest publishing companies in the world. With its headquarters in the US, the company has a presence in the rest of the world. Moreover, Penguin Random House saw a 6% surge in its global revenue in the 2021 fiscal year. This revenue has now reached €4 billion. Bertelsmann acquired the ownership of Penguin Random House with a 53% stake.
The United States currently accounts for around 56.50% of its total revenue. However, this stat is gradually shrinking over the past couple of years. The company has booked a profit margin of almost 19%, which is a new record in its history. The overall earnings of the publishing company were up by 9.2%, reaching €755 million.
4. Pearson Plc (NYSE:PSO)
Market Cap: $7.95 billion as of August 10
Pearson Plc (NYSE:PSO) is a globally recognized education group based in London. The company offers services of education publishing to educational institutes, organizations, and students. Moreover, Pearson owns several educational brands, like Peachpit, eCollege, Scott Foresman, Longman, and others. Thus, the company makes it into the list of the biggest publishing companies in the world.
The company has a network in more than 70 countries, but its main consumer audience comes from North America. Furthermore, the company estimates revenue of about $6.07 billion. The publishing company also has a Pearson+ app with more than 2.75 million users. It enjoys 133,000 paid subscription users, 2.75 million registered users, and a 4.8 rating on the Apple store.
3. Thomson Reuters Corp (NYSE:TRI)
Market Cap: $55.34 billion as of August 10
Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI) is a Canadian publishing company. Since its creation in 2008, Reuters has grown to become a leading corporate brand in Canada. The annual financial report for 2021 suggests the company made $6,348 million in total annual revenue, 6% above last year’s figures. Its operating profit went down by 36% to $1,242 million in the fiscal year, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $11.50 million. Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI) recorded net cash of $1,773 million.
2. Relx Plc (NYSE:RELX)
Market Cap: $56.65 billion as of August 10
Relx Plc (NYSE:RELX) publishes content related to the scientific, technical, medical, and legal world. The company was created after the merger of Reed Exhibitions and Elsevier. It facilitates researchers and professionals from all around the globe.
Moreover, Relx Plc (NYSE:RELX) has spread its operational structure in more than 40 countries. It has the support of customers from over 180 nations. The total revenue of the publishing company has reached $5.60 billion. The company has a market cap of $49.50 billion. Since last year, the company has been experiencing significant revenue growth. The company has a total headcount of 33,500 employees, 50% women and 50% men.
In the fiscal year of 2021, the total revenue increased by 2% on the yearly basis to reach £7,244 million. The underlying revenue growth of the company was 7%. Plus, its operating profit was £2,210 million with an operating margin of 30.5%. The net margin of Relx Plc (NYSE:RELX) was 23.3%, and its net debt was reported to be £6,017 million. The earnings per share of the company were 87.6p.
Relx Plc (NYSE:RELX) posted commendable results in the previous year. 60% of its revenue came from North America, 20% from Europe, and 20% from the rest of the world. About 86% of its revenue was from electronic means. Moreover, the company has shown a positive outlook in the first quarter of 2022.
1. Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Market Cap: $1.40 trillion as of August 10
Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) tops the list of the biggest publishing companies in the world. Through Kindle Publishing, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has set its foot in the publishing sector. However, the company does not share the exact revenue details of Kindle Publishing. But the magnitude of Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) places Kindle as a key stakeholder in the publishing sector.
Nonetheless, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) paid around $39.80 million in royalties to Kindle Unlimited. These royalties are apart from the revenue made by the platform.
Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has now decided to close e-bookstores in China in the next year. This will adversely impact the sales and revenue of the organization. But the company has also launched Kindle Vella for its consumers. This app will be an interactive stories platform for ebook enthusiasts.
