Wiley (WLY, Financial) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 35.5 cents per share for its Class A and Class B common stock. This dividend will be paid to shareholders on July 24, with the record date set for July 8.
In addition, Wiley's board has approved a significant expansion of its share repurchase authorization, increasing the program from the previous $200 million in 2020 to $250 million. This move reflects Wiley's continued commitment to returning value to its shareholders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast
Based on the one-year price targets offered by 1 analysts, the average target price for John Wiley & Sons Inc (WLY, Financial) is $60.00 with a high estimate of $60.00 and a low estimate of $60.00. The average target implies an upside of 38.44% from the current price of $43.34. More detailed estimate data can be found on the John Wiley & Sons Inc (WLY) Forecast page.
Based on the consensus recommendation from 1 brokerage firms, John Wiley & Sons Inc's (WLY, Financial) average brokerage recommendation is currently 2.0, indicating "Outperform" status. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies Strong Buy, and 5 denotes Sell.
Based on GuruFocus estimates, the estimated GF Value for John Wiley & Sons Inc (WLY, Financial) in one year is $36.40, suggesting a downside of 16.01% from the current price of $43.34. GF Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on the historical multiples the stock has traded at previously, as well as past business growth and the future estimates of the business' performance. More detailed data can be found on the John Wiley & Sons Inc (WLY) Summary page.
WLY Key Business Developments
Release Date: June 17, 2025
- Revenue Growth: Achieved revenue growth in both segments, driven by recurring revenue models and strong growth in Open Access.
- AI Licensing Revenue: Total AI licensing revenue of $40 million for the year.
- Adjusted Operating Margin: Improved by 300 basis points.
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Increased by 120 basis points.
- Free Cash Flow: Up 10% to $126 million, with a reaffirmed target of $200 million for fiscal '26.
- Share Repurchases: Increased by 34% to $60 million.
- Dividend Yield: Currently at 3.5%.
- University Services Divestiture: Secured $120 million in cash proceeds.
- EPS Guidance: Exceeded EPS guidance range for the second year in a row.
- Research Submissions Growth: 19% submissions growth rate and 8% output growth in fiscal '25.
- Learning Segment Revenue: AI licensing generated $29 million in learning revenue.
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin for Learning: Improved by 250 basis points to 37.4%.
- Net-Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio: 1.8 at the end of April.
- Adjusted EPS: Expected to be in the range of $3.90 to $4.35 for fiscal '26.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- John Wiley & Sons Inc (WLY, Financial) reported revenue growth and margin improvement in both segments, with a 300 basis point improvement in adjusted operating margin.
- The company achieved strong growth in Open Access driven by global demand to publish, with a 19% submissions growth rate and 8% output growth in fiscal '25.
- AI licensing revenue reached $40 million, with significant partnerships formed with major tech companies for AI model training.
- Free cash flow increased by 10% to $126 million, and the company reaffirmed its $200 million target for fiscal '26.
- The company completed divestitures, securing $120 million in cash proceeds from the University Services divestiture to reduce debt and interest expenses.
Negative Points
- The learning segment experienced a 5% revenue decline in Q4 due to a large AI agreement in the prior year and retail channel softness in professional publishing.
- Adjusted revenue was flat in Q4, with some softness in ancillary and print products, including back files and digital archives.
- The company faces uncertainty in the AI market, which is rapidly evolving and not as predictable as desired.
- Corporate expenses rose modestly due to enterprise modernization, although they are expected to decrease in fiscal '26.
- The macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, with potential headwinds from geopolitical risks and policy volatility.
