WLYB

Communication Services

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. · Publishing · $2B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
48.6
Below Average

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. scores 48.6/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Communication Services Sector
WLYB
48.6
Sector avg
35.8
Quality
Neutral
Moat
Neutral
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Attractive

What is John Wiley & Sons, Inc.?

John Wiley & Sons is a global research and education company serving researchers, professionals, and learners across academic and corporate markets. Headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, it operates across publishing, digital learning, and education services.

Wiley generates revenue through three segments: Research Publishing & Platforms, Academic & Professional Learning, and Education Services. It publishes scientific and scholarly journals, delivers digital courseware, and provides test preparation and professional development services. Its Literatum platform supports society publishers in hosting and managing content online. Products reach libraries, corporations, universities, and individual professionals worldwide.

The company traces its current corporate structure to 1982 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey.

  • Scientific and scholarly journal publishing
  • Digital courseware and professional learning products
  • Literatum publishing software platform for societies
  • Test preparation and corporate learning services

Is WLYB a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates WLYB as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.

Valuation stands out as the most favorable pillar, rated Attractive — suggesting the market may already be pricing in the company's challenges. Quality and Moat both register as Neutral, indicating a business with some structural stability in its publishing and platform operations.

Growth and Risk are both rated Weak, pointing to limited near-term expansion prospects and elevated uncertainty around the business trajectory.

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 WLYB pay dividends?

Yes — John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pays a dividend.

WLYB 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 mature business model. Investors should weigh the sustainability of payouts against the Weak Growth and Risk pillar ratings before relying on dividend income.

When does WLYB report earnings?

John Wiley & Sons reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

The company's recent results reflect the pressures visible in its Weak Growth pillar — revenue momentum has been challenged as the publishing industry navigates digital transition and shifting demand. Segment performance across research and education services has been uneven.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit John Wiley & Sons' investor relations page directly.

WLYB Price History

-18.3% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in John Wiley & Sons, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$9,162
That's a -8.4% total return, or -1.7% annualized.

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.

WLYB Long-term Outlook

The fundamental outlook for WLYB is cautious. The Weak Growth pillar signals limited near-term revenue acceleration, while the Weak Risk pillar highlights meaningful execution and structural uncertainty. The Attractive Valuation pillar suggests downside may be partially reflected in the current price, but a recovery in growth metrics would be needed to improve the overall UQS profile.

Growth drivers

  • Expansion of digital and open-access publishing models
  • Corporate and professional learning demand for upskilling
  • Literatum platform adoption among scholarly societies

Key risks

  • Structural decline in traditional print publishing revenue
  • Competitive pressure from open-access and free content alternatives
  • Execution risk in transitioning legacy segments to digital-first models

WLYB vs Peers

WLYB operates in a competitive landscape that includes other publishing and media companies with overlapping but distinct market positions.

WLYSimilar UQS
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

WLY is the Class A share counterpart to WLYB, representing the same underlying business with different voting rights rather than a separate competitor.

SCHLWLYB scores higher
Scholastic Corporation

Scholastic focuses primarily on children's publishing and educational materials for K-12 markets, a different audience than Wiley's research and professional learning focus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does John Wiley & Sons do?

John Wiley & Sons publishes scientific, technical, and scholarly journals, delivers digital courseware and professional learning products, and provides education services through its three business segments. Its Literatum platform also supports society publishers in managing and distributing content online.

Does WLYB pay dividends?

Yes, WLYB pays a regular dividend. The company's long operating history in publishing supports its dividend program, though investors should consider the Weak Growth and Risk pillar ratings when assessing payout sustainability. Check the company's investor relations page for the current dividend rate.

When does WLYB report earnings?

John Wiley & Sons reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed companies. For exact upcoming report dates, refer to the company's investor relations page, as our data source does not cover specific future earnings dates.

Is WLYB a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates WLYB as Below Average overall. The Attractive Valuation pillar may interest value-oriented investors, but Weak Growth and Risk pillars indicate meaningful challenges. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — the full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is WLYB overvalued?

Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, WLYB is rated Attractive, suggesting it may be trading at a reasonable or discounted level relative to its fundamentals. This is one of the stronger aspects of the current UQS profile, though it should be weighed against the Weak Growth outlook.

How does WLYB compare to its competitors?

WLYB competes in research publishing and professional learning alongside companies like Scholastic, which targets K-12 education. Wiley's differentiation lies in its scholarly journal portfolio and the Literatum platform serving academic societies — a more specialized niche than general educational publishing.

What is WLYB's market cap bracket?

WLYB is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer more stability than small-caps while still carrying meaningful business-specific risk, as reflected in the Weak Risk pillar rating.

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 WLYB a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, WLYB's UQS profile presents a mixed picture. Neutral Quality and Moat scores suggest some structural durability, but Weak Growth and Risk ratings signal that the business faces real headwinds. Long-term investors should monitor whether digital transition efforts improve these pillar scores over time.

What sector does WLYB belong to?

WLYB is classified under the Communication Services sector. Within that broad sector, it occupies a specialized niche focused on research publishing, academic content, and professional learning — distinct from media or telecommunications companies that dominate the sector by market cap.

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Pro Analysis

WLYB — Score History

40455055Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 9 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 21, 202648.556.041.039.119.390.3+0.1
May 19, 202648.455.841.039.119.390.0-0.3
May 16, 202648.756.641.039.119.390.9+0.1
May 7, 202648.657.041.039.119.389.10.0
Apr 26, 202648.657.041.039.119.389.20.0
Apr 19, 202648.657.041.039.119.389.4-0.1
Apr 18, 202648.757.041.039.119.390.0-0.9
Apr 12, 202649.657.041.039.119.395.70.0
Apr 2, 202649.657.041.039.119.395.6

WLYB — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

55.7/100 (25%)

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

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.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

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.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityModerate

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

91.4/100 (15%)

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

41/100 (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 WLYB.

Score Composition

Quality
55.7×25%13.9
Growth
39.1×20%7.8
Risk
19.3×15%2.9
Valuation
91.4×15%13.7
Moat
41.0×25%10.3
Total
48.6Below Average

Financial Data

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How is the WLYB 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.