John Wiley & Sons (WLY) Stock Skyrockets After Crushing Q4 Earnings Forecasts

Wall Street''s latest darling? A 200-year-old publisher.

John Wiley & Sons just pulled off a rare feat—making textbooks sexy again. Shares surged after the company posted Q4 earnings that left analysts scrambling to upgrade their spreadsheets.

The numbers don''t lie

While specific figures weren''t disclosed, the ''materially exceeded expectations'' language suggests Wiley''s academic arm is minting cash faster than a crypto bull market. Turns out students still need reference materials—even in the age of AI.

Old dog, new tricks

The publishing giant''s digital transformation appears to be paying dividends (literally). Their pivot to open-access journals and online education platforms might finally be shaking off that ''dusty encyclopedia'' reputation.

One hedge fund manager quipped: ''At this rate, they''ll be trading at tech multiples by Christmas—right after their blockchain-based textbook NFT platform launches.''

TLDR

• Q4 EPS of $1.37 exceeded market expectations by $0.10.
• Revenue for the quarter reached $442.6 million, beating estimates.
• Full-year net income was $84.16 million compared to a $200.32 million loss last year.
• FY26 earnings forecast raised to $3.90–$4.35 per share.
• Shares rose 11% after the strong financial report and optimistic guidance.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: WLY) saw its stock climb 11.13% to $41.15 following its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release. For the quarter ending April 30, 2025, the company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.37, beating analysts’ expectations by $0.10. Revenue came in at $442.6 million, surpassing estimates by $7.58 million despite a 5.5% year-over-year decline due to divestitures.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLY)

Full-year net income reached $84.16 million, a major turnaround from the $200.32 million net loss a year ago. This resulted in a basic EPS of $1.56 versus a prior-year basic loss of $3.65 per share. Diluted EPS mirrored this improvement at $1.53.

Full-Year Performance Reflects Recovery

For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, John Wiley & Sons reported sales of $1.68 billion, down from $1.87 billion the previous year. The sales decline was primarily linked to recent business divestitures. However, profitability is improved through operational efficiency gains and better cost management. The return to net profitability signals the company’s successful recovery efforts.

Wiley’s strategic focus on its Core publishing and research businesses contributed to these results. Academic journal renewals and increased demand in scientific publishing supported the top line. Wiley’s exploration into AI licensing and corporate science analytics also shows promise for future revenue growth.

Positive Outlook Fuels Investor Optimism

Looking forward, John Wiley & Sons expects full-year earnings for fiscal 2026 to range between $3.90 and $4.35 per share. The company forecasts low- to mid-single-digit revenue growth compared to this year’s $1.66 billion. These optimistic projections are driving renewed investor confidence.

Wall Street analysts have set a one-year average price target of $60.00 for Wiley, implying significant upside potential from the current price level. The stock also holds an “Outperform” rating based on broker recommendations.

Market Performance and Strategic Shifts

Year-to-date, Wiley’s shares are down 5.5%, underperforming the S&P 500’s 1.85% return. However, its one-year return of 5.71% remains positive. Over a five-year span, the stock has gained 17.85%, compared to the S&P 500’s 92.41%.

John Wiley & Sons is strategically shifting towards digital innovation. Its push into AI and analytics is expected to enhance growth in corporate markets. These moves are aligned with evolving demands in the knowledge economy, positioning the company for sustained future success.