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1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.operates as a research and education company worldwide.The company operates through three segments: Research Publishing & Platforms, Academic & Professional Learning, and Education Services.


The Research Publishing & Platforms segment offers scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services to learned societies, individual researchers, other professionals, and academic, corporate, and government libraries.This segment also publishes physical sciences and engineering, health sciences, social sciences, and humanities and life sciences journals; and provides a publishing software and service for scholarly and professional societies, and publishers to deliver, host, enhance, market, and manage their content on the web through the Literatum platform.It sells and distributes its products through various channels, including research libraries and library consortia, and independent subscription agents, as well as directly to professional society members, bookstores, online booksellers, and other customers.


The Academic & Professional Learning segment provides education publishing and professional learning products and services, including scientific, professional, and education print and digital books, digital courseware, and test preparation services to libraries, corporations, students, professionals, and researchers, as well as learning, development, and assessment services for businesses and professionals.This segment distributes its products through chain and online booksellers, libraries, colleges and universities, corporations, direct to consumer, websites, distributor networks, and other online applications.The Education Services segment provides online program management services for higher education institutions and talent development services including placement and training for professionals and businesses.


The company was founded in 1807 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey.

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1.b. Last Insights on WLY

Breaking News: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. reported its second quarter 2026 earnings, with revenue at $422 million, a slight decrease from $427 million in the prior year. The company saw operating income of $73 million, up 14% from the previous year. Diluted EPS also increased. The growth is attributed to research growth, AI momentum, and margin expansion. The company's performance is driven by its position as a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence. Analysts recommend a hold, citing steady performance and potential for future growth.

1.c. Company Highlights

2. Wiley's Q1 FY2026 Earnings: A Mixed Bag with AI-Driven Growth

Wiley reported first-quarter revenue of $397 million, slightly below analyst expectations, with adjusted EPS coming in at $0.49, significantly lower than the estimated $1.06. The adjusted revenue growth was 1%, while adjusted EPS grew by 2%. However, adjusted EBITDA declined by 3%. The revenue performance was impacted by softness in professional publishing and a difficult year-over-year comparison in journal renewals.

Publication Date: Sep -05

📋 Highlights
  • AI Licensing Revenue Growth:: Revenue surged to $29M from $17M YoY, driven by partnerships with tech giants and AWS.
  • Research Segment Strength:: Revenue grew 5% YoY, with AI solutions contributing $16M (vs. $1M prior year) and Nexus AI project up 44%.
  • Open Access Momentum:: Double-digit growth sustained, bolstered by increased global submissions and Research Exchange platform adoption (50% live journals).
  • Free Cash Flow Improvement:: FCF used $100M (vs. $107M in 2024), with capital allocation prioritizing debt reduction and $250M share repurchase boost.
  • Full-Year Guidance Reaffirmed:: Targets include 25.5–26.5% adjusted EBITDA margin, $3.90–$4.35 adjusted EPS, and $200M FCF, despite professional publishing headwinds.

Segment Performance

The research segment was a bright spot, with revenue growing 5% driven by strong demand for AI solutions, which generated $16 million in revenue compared to $1 million in the prior year. The Learning segment, on the other hand, saw an 8% decline in revenue, primarily due to lower AI revenue. Open access growth continues to be strong, reaching double-digit growth.

AI Revenue and Growth Prospects

AI revenue for the quarter was $29 million, and the company expects growing demand for subscription inference opportunities. Wiley is capitalizing on the AI opportunities in research and learning, focusing on subscription-based and transactional AI businesses. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance, driven by strong demand for AI solutions and cost management initiatives.

Financial Health and Capital Allocation

Wiley's financial health remains robust, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio improving to 1.9. The company is committed to returning value to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, with the board increasing the share repurchase authorization by 25% to $250 million. Free cash flow was a use of $100 million, an improvement from $107 million last year.

Valuation and Outlook

With a P/E Ratio of 21.74, P/B Ratio of 2.89, and an EV/EBITDA of 8.78, Wiley's valuation appears reasonable. The company's ROE of 13.3% and ROIC of 8.3% indicate a decent return on equity and invested capital. Analysts estimate next year's revenue growth at 0.9%. Wiley's core business remains strong, driven by recurring revenue from transformative agreements and double-digit growth in open access.

3. NewsRoom

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John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLY) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Dec -04

Source: seekingalpha.com

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Research Growth, AI Momentum, and Margin Expansion Highlight Wiley's Second Quarter 2026

Dec -04

Source: businesswire.com

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Wiley Schedules Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Release and Conference Call

Nov -26

Source: businesswire.com

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Wiley Convenes Experts to Discuss How Stronger Science Communications, Academic Societies Can Strengthen Public Trust

Nov -12

Source: businesswire.com

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Access Investment Management Adds to Wiley Stake as Investors Revisit the Publishing Leader

Nov -05

Source: fool.com

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AI Killed The Internet Star But Wiley Offers A Pure Data Hoard

Oct -24

Source: seekingalpha.com

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Wiley Launches Interoperable Platform to Power Scientific Discovery in World's Leading AI Technologies

Oct -14

Source: businesswire.com

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AI Adoption Jumps to 84% Among Researchers as Expectations Undergo Significant 'Reality Check'

Oct -07

Source: businesswire.com

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (2.22%)

6. Segments

Research

Expected Growth: 2%

Strong demand for digital learning solutions, increasing adoption of online educational resources, and strategic acquisitions drive growth. Additionally, expanding presence in emerging markets, innovative product offerings, and a shift towards subscription-based models contribute to the 2% growth rate.

Academic

Expected Growth: 3%

Strong demand for online learning resources, increasing adoption of digital textbooks, and strategic partnerships with educational institutions drive growth for John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s Academic segment, with a 3% growth rate.

Talent

Expected Growth: 1%

Talent segment's 1% growth driven by increasing demand for digital learning platforms, strategic partnerships, and expansion into new markets. Wiley's strong brand recognition, high-quality content, and innovative products also contribute to growth. Additionally, the shift towards online learning and upskilling amidst the pandemic has boosted demand for Wiley's talent development solutions.

7. Detailed Products

Scientific, Technical, and Medical (STM) Journals

Peer-reviewed journals covering a wide range of scientific, technical, and medical fields

Professional and Trade Books

Books and e-books for professionals and practitioners in fields such as business, finance, and technology

Education and Learning Solutions

Digital learning platforms, online courses, and educational resources for students and instructors

Research and Analytics Tools

Data analytics and research tools for researchers, academics, and professionals

Online Learning Platforms

Online platforms for professional development, certification, and continuing education

Publishing Services

Publishing services for authors, societies, and institutions, including manuscript submission and peer review

8. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

The threat of substitutes for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is medium due to the presence of alternative educational resources and digital platforms.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

The bargaining power of customers for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is low due to the company's strong brand reputation and diversified customer base.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

The bargaining power of suppliers for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is medium due to the company's dependence on a few large suppliers for printing and distribution services.

Threat Of New Entrants

The threat of new entrants for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is low due to the high barriers to entry in the publishing industry, including significant capital requirements and established relationships with authors and customers.

Intensity Of Rivalry

The intensity of rivalry for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is high due to the competitive nature of the publishing industry, with many established players competing for market share.

9. SWOT Analysis

Strength

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

Value
Debt Weight 45.81%
Debt Cost 8.21%
Equity Weight 54.19%
Equity Cost 8.37%
WACC 8.30%
Leverage 84.54%

11. Quality Control: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. passed 3 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Stock-Card
Deluxe

A-Score: 5.8/10

Value: 7.9

Growth: 3.3

Quality: 4.6

Yield: 9.0

Momentum: 5.0

Volatility: 4.7

1-Year Total Return ->

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Townsquare Media

A-Score: 5.5/10

Value: 9.3

Growth: 3.7

Quality: 4.6

Yield: 9.0

Momentum: 1.0

Volatility: 5.3

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
John Wiley & Sons

A-Score: 4.9/10

Value: 5.2

Growth: 2.9

Quality: 5.6

Yield: 7.0

Momentum: 2.0

Volatility: 7.0

1-Year Total Return ->

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Scholastic

A-Score: 4.9/10

Value: 7.3

Growth: 4.2

Quality: 3.7

Yield: 5.0

Momentum: 6.0

Volatility: 3.3

1-Year Total Return ->

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Gannett Co

A-Score: 3.5/10

Value: 7.4

Growth: 3.6

Quality: 4.2

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 3.0

Volatility: 2.7

1-Year Total Return ->

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Stock-Card
EDC

A-Score: 3.3/10

Value: 9.6

Growth: 2.7

Quality: 4.1

Yield: 1.0

Momentum: 1.0

Volatility: 1.3

1-Year Total Return ->

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Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

32.4$

Current Price

32.4$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows