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John Wiley Sons Cl A (WLY)
NYSE:WLY

John Wiley Sons Cl A (WLY) AI Stock Analysis

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John Wiley Sons Cl A

(NYSE:WLY)

56Neutral
John Wiley Sons Cl A's overall score is influenced by financial challenges and high leverage despite positive trends in EBIT and EBITDA margins. The technical analysis suggests moderate strength, but the high P/E ratio indicates overvaluation risk. Positive earnings call insights with growth in research and AI licensing are offset by challenges in the learning segment and potential funding cuts, leading to a balanced but cautious outlook.

John Wiley Sons Cl A (WLY) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

John Wiley Sons Cl A Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc. engages in the provision of research and learning materials. It operates through the following segments: Research, Publishing, and Solutions. The Research segment provides scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services, to academic, corporate, and government libraries, learned societies, and individual researchers and other professionals. The Publishing segment offers scientific, professional, and education books and related content in print and digital formats, as well as test preparation services and course workflow tools, to libraries, corporations, students, professionals, and researchers. The Solutions segment includes online program management services for higher education institutions and learning, development, and assessment services for businesses and professionals. The company was founded by Charles Wiley in 1807 and is headquartered in Hoboken, NJ.
How the Company Makes MoneyJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc. generates revenue primarily through the sale of its academic and professional content. Key revenue streams include subscriptions to scientific, technical, and medical journals, sales of books and e-books, and licensing agreements for its digital content. The company also earns money through its education segment, which provides digital courseware, online education platforms, and test preparation services. Strategic partnerships with academic institutions, corporations, and government organizations, as well as a strong presence in various digital channels, significantly contribute to Wiley's earnings by expanding the reach and accessibility of its content and services.

John Wiley Sons Cl A Financial Statement Overview

Summary
John Wiley Sons Cl A faces financial challenges with declining revenues and profitability, high leverage, and negative cash flow generation. While EBIT and EBITDA margins show some positive trends, overall financial health requires strategic improvements.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
The company experienced a decline in revenue and profitability over the period analyzed. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) data shows a decrease in total revenue compared to previous years. Gross profit margin remains relatively stable, but net profit margin is low due to decreased net income. EBIT and EBITDA margins show some improvement in the TTM period but are still below historical levels.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio, indicating significant leverage. Stockholders' equity has decreased over time, impacting the equity ratio negatively. Return on equity is low due to declining net income. The company's total assets have decreased, but debt levels remain high, posing potential financial risk.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
The cash flow statement highlights a concerning trend with negative free cash flow in the TTM period. Operating cash flow is also negative, indicating challenges in generating cash from operations. The free cash flow to net income ratio is unfavorable, suggesting issues in translating profits into free cash flow.
Breakdown
TTMJun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021Jun 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
1.70B1.87B2.02B2.08B1.94B1.83B
Gross Profit
1.22B1.24B1.33B1.38B1.32B1.24B
EBIT
224.73M52.26M208.96M219.28M185.51M194.05M
EBITDA
304.35M52.26M293.60M445.63M395.88M141.59M
Net Income Common Stockholders
41.33M-200.32M17.23M148.31M148.26M-74.29M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
104.51M83.25M106.71M100.40M93.80M202.46M
Total Assets
2.60B2.73B3.11B3.36B3.45B3.17B
Total Debt
988.78M887.28M883.50M940.14M989.86M956.62M
Net Debt
884.27M804.03M776.79M839.75M896.07M754.15M
Total Liabilities
1.91B1.99B2.06B2.22B2.36B2.24B
Stockholders Equity
2.60B739.72M1.05B1.14B1.09B933.62M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-178.50M105.88M170.38M217.40M226.71M198.00M
Operating Cash Flow
-101.71M207.64M277.07M339.10M359.92M288.44M
Investing Cash Flow
-13.81M-106.64M-98.40M-194.02M-433.15M-346.67M
Financing Cash Flow
60.57M-107.22M-168.57M-131.64M-47.09M172.68M

John Wiley Sons Cl A Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price43.75
Price Trends
50DMA
41.76
Positive
100DMA
45.26
Negative
200DMA
44.52
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.86
Negative
RSI
56.72
Neutral
STOCH
75.77
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WLY, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 43.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 41.18, above the 50-day MA of 41.76, and below the 200-day MA of 44.52, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.86 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.72 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 75.77 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WLY.

John Wiley Sons Cl A Risk Analysis

John Wiley Sons Cl A disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. John Wiley Sons Cl A reported the most risks in the “Tech & Innovation” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

John Wiley Sons Cl A Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (58)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$87.64B35.6456.34%1.64%5.86%13.13%
NYNYT
69
Neutral
$7.96B27.5215.92%1.08%6.59%26.68%
SSSSP
60
Neutral
$123.50M11.68%1.66%60.23%
59
Neutral
$534.76M-0.42%4.20%-3.89%-106.78%
58
Neutral
$29.51B-0.64-15.44%4.07%2.03%-50.31%
WLWLY
56
Neutral
$2.52B62.965.77%3.01%-11.77%
GCGCI
48
Neutral
$483.37M-11.19%-5.79%-10.12%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WLY
John Wiley Sons Cl A
43.75
7.87
21.93%
SSP
E. W. Scripps Company Class A
2.73
-1.25
-31.41%
NYT
New York Times
47.82
4.66
10.80%
SCHL
Scholastic
20.05
-15.39
-43.43%
GCI
Gannett
3.00
1.02
51.52%
RELX
Relx
47.81
5.25
12.34%

John Wiley Sons Cl A Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Mar 6, 2025 | % Change Since: 15.40% | Next Earnings Date: Jun 12, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a generally positive outlook with significant growth in research and AI licensing, along with strategic expansions in emerging markets. However, there are challenges in the learning segment, potential impacts from US research funding cuts, and upcoming restructuring costs.
Highlights
Record Operating Margin Improvement
The company reported a 280 basis point improvement in operating margin and a 50 basis point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin over the prior year.
Research Growth and AI Licensing
Research revenue increased by 5% in the quarter, driven by core growth in research and AI licensing.
Strategic AI Licensing Agreements
Year-to-date, the company has generated $30 million in AI licensing revenue, with a new $9 million agreement in Q3.
Expansion in Emerging Markets
Executed multiyear agreements in India and Brazil, expanding access to research for millions of researchers and students.
Free Cash Flow and Financial Outlook
Free cash flow shows strong recovery, expected to meet guidance of approximately $125 million for fiscal 2025.
Lowlights
Decline in Learning Segment
Learning revenue decreased by 6% in Q3 due to challenging year-over-year comparisons and softness in academic book sales.
Potential Impact of US Research Funding Cuts
Monitoring potential impacts of US government actions on research funding, though direct federal funding supports a small percentage of output.
Upcoming Restructuring Costs
Anticipation of restructuring charges due to optimizing cost structure and reducing corporate shared service costs.
Company Guidance
During the Wallace Q3 Fiscal 2025 earnings call, the company provided several key metrics and guidance for future performance. Revenue growth for Q3 was driven by a 5% increase in the research segment, although the learning segment saw a 6% decline due to challenging comparisons with the previous year. The company reported a 280 basis point improvement in operating margin, reaching 14.2%, and a 39% increase in adjusted EPS. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA grew by 4%, leading to a margin of 23.2%. The company remains optimistic about achieving its fiscal 2025 outlook, anticipating revenue growth in the range of $1.65 billion to $1.69 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin expected at the high end of 23% to 24%. For fiscal 2026, Wallace has raised its margin target above 25% and reaffirmed its free cash flow target of $200 million. The call also highlighted strong performance in AI licensing, contributing $30 million in revenue year-to-date, and an expanded agreement with a technology customer. The company emphasized its robust balance sheet, consistent cash generation, and focus on cost structure optimization to drive further margin improvements.

John Wiley Sons Cl A Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Wiley Appoints Dr. Karen Madden to Board
Positive
Mar 5, 2025

On March 5, 2025, Wiley announced the appointment of Dr. Karen N. Madden to its Board of Directors, effective February 28, 2025. Dr. Madden, who is the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at MilliporeSigma, brings extensive experience in science, technology, and innovation. Her appointment is expected to enhance Wiley’s strategic vision and innovation capabilities, aligning with the company’s commitment to advancing knowledge and delivering trusted content and services. Dr. Madden’s role on the Board and Audit Committee, along with her participation in the non-employee director compensation program, underscores Wiley’s focus on leveraging her expertise to drive progress and growth.

Executive/Board Changes
John Wiley & Sons Board Members Announce Resignations
Neutral
Dec 19, 2024

George D. Bell and Beth A. Birnbaum have announced their resignations from the Board of Directors of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., effective December 31, 2024. Their departures are not due to any disagreements with the company’s operations or policies, and the Board will have two vacancies unless further changes are made.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.