WLY
Communication ServicesJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc. · Publishing · $2B
What is John Wiley & Sons, Inc.?
John Wiley & Sons is a global research and education company serving researchers, professionals, and academic institutions. Operating across publishing, professional learning, and education services, it has built a broad portfolio of content and digital platforms.
Wiley generates revenue through three segments: Research Publishing & Platforms, Academic & Professional Learning, and Education Services. It publishes scientific, technical, and scholarly journals, delivers digital courseware and professional books, and provides education technology services. Its Literatum platform helps societies and publishers host and manage content online. Products reach libraries, corporations, universities, and individual professionals worldwide.
The company was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey.
- Scientific and scholarly journal publishing
- Digital courseware and professional learning products
- Literatum publishing software platform
- Test preparation and assessment services
Is WLY a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates WLY as Below Average overall.
Valuation stands out as the most favorable pillar, rated Attractive — suggesting the market may not be pricing in full recovery potential. Quality and Moat both register as Neutral, reflecting a recognizable brand and established content library that provide some competitive grounding.
Growth and Risk are both rated Weak, pointing to meaningful headwinds in revenue trajectory and financial resilience that investors should weigh carefully.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does WLY pay dividends?
Yes — John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pays a dividend.
WLY pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-oriented investors. Given the company's established publishing operations and long operating history, dividend payments reflect a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Investors should review the current yield and payout sustainability in the context of Wiley's Weak Growth and Risk pillar ratings.
When does WLY report earnings?
John Wiley & Sons reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Wiley has navigated a challenging environment in academic publishing and professional learning, with segment restructuring influencing recent results. Revenue trends across its core segments reflect broader pressures in the education and research publishing industries.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit John Wiley & Sons' investor relations page directly.
WLY Price History
-20.7% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in John Wiley & Sons, Inc.?
Based on John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
WLY Long-term Outlook
The UQS Growth pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited near-term revenue expansion across Wiley's segments. The Weak Risk rating adds uncertainty around execution and balance sheet flexibility. However, the Attractive Valuation pillar suggests the stock may already reflect much of this caution, leaving room for re-rating if operational improvements take hold.
Growth drivers
- Expansion of digital content platforms and open-access publishing models
- Corporate learning and professional development demand
- Potential monetization of the Literatum platform for third-party publishers
Key risks
- Structural decline in print publishing revenue
- Competitive pressure from open-access and free online research resources
- Execution risk around ongoing business restructuring
WLY vs Peers
WLY operates alongside a range of publishing and education peers, each with distinct business models and market positions.
WLYB represents the Class B share structure of the same underlying company, carrying different voting rights but the same operational exposure.
TDAY focuses on news media and digital publishing, targeting a consumer audience rather than the academic and professional markets Wiley serves.
Scholastic concentrates on children's publishing and school-based book distribution, occupying a different end of the education publishing spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John Wiley & Sons do?
John Wiley & Sons is a research and education company that publishes scientific and scholarly journals, delivers professional learning content, and provides education technology services. It serves researchers, academic libraries, corporations, and students worldwide through both print and digital channels.
Does WLY pay dividends?
Yes, WLY pays a regular dividend. The company has maintained dividend payments as part of its capital return strategy. Investors should review the current yield and assess payout sustainability given the company's Weak Growth and Risk pillar ratings before relying on dividend income.
When does WLY report earnings?
John Wiley & Sons reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed public companies. For the exact timing of upcoming results, check the company's investor relations page or your brokerage's earnings calendar.
Is WLY a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates WLY as Below Average, reflecting Weak Growth and Risk pillars alongside Neutral Quality and Moat. The Attractive Valuation pillar is a relative bright spot. Whether WLY fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — the full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is WLY overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for WLY is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not considered expensive relative to its fundamentals on a composite basis. This may reflect the market pricing in ongoing business challenges, which are captured in the Weak Growth and Risk ratings.
How does WLY compare to its competitors?
WLY occupies a distinct niche in academic and professional publishing, differentiating it from consumer-focused peers like TDAY and children's publisher SCHL. Its Literatum platform and journal portfolio give it institutional reach, though its overall UQS Score of Below Average reflects meaningful operational headwinds.
What is WLY's market cap bracket?
WLY is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap names while remaining more sensitive to business-specific risks than large-cap peers in the Communication Services sector.
Who founded John Wiley & Sons?
John Wiley & Sons has roots going back to the early nineteenth century, making it one of the oldest publishing companies in the United States. Detailed founding history is widely available through the company's official website and public records.
Is WLY a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, WLY's UQS profile presents a mixed picture. Neutral Quality and Moat suggest some durability, but Weak Growth and Risk ratings indicate challenges that could weigh on long-term compounding. The Attractive Valuation may offer a margin of safety for patient investors willing to monitor execution progress.
What sector does WLY belong to?
WLY is classified under the Communication Services sector. Within that broad sector, it occupies the publishing and education technology niche, serving academic institutions, research libraries, and professional learners rather than traditional media or telecom audiences.
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Pro Analysis
WLY — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 48.6 | 55.1 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 19.3 | 90.9 | -0.2 |
| May 21, 2026 | 48.8 | 55.2 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 19.3 | 91.6 | +0.1 |
| May 19, 2026 | 48.7 | 55.2 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 19.3 | 91.3 | -0.2 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 48.9 | 56.5 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 19.3 | 90.5 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 49.0 | 56.5 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 19.3 | 91.0 | -0.9 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 49.9 | 56.5 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 19.3 | 97.1 | — |
WLY — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 55.1/100 (25%)John Wiley & Sons, Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 39.1/100 (20%)John Wiley & Sons, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 19.3/100 (15%)John Wiley & Sons, Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 91.7/100 (15%)John Wiley & Sons, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 42/100 (25%)John Wiley & Sons, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for WLY.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the WLY UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.