John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLY) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Revenue Revenue performance was impacted by unfavorable comparables in Research and soft market conditions in Learning. Research Publishing revenue was up 4% excluding AI revenue. Total revenue was up 1% on a reported basis and flat at constant currency.
AI Revenue Generated $42 million in AI revenue year-to-date, above last year's total of $40 million. $7 million of AI revenue was realized in Q3. Expected to deliver AI revenue of $45 million to $50 million this year, up from $40 million in fiscal '25 and $23 million in fiscal '24. Growth attributed to strategic projects and partnerships.
Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA was up 12% in Q3, with a 250 basis point improvement in margin. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA was up 6% in Research and down 8% in Learning. Corporate expenses on an adjusted EBITDA basis were down 21% for the quarter and 12% year-to-date.
Operating Cash Flow Operating cash flow nearly doubled to $103 million in Q3. Year-to-date, operating cash flow was up $51 million.
Adjusted Operating Margin Adjusted operating margin improved by 280 basis points in Q3.
Shareholder Returns Repurchases doubled in Q3 to $70 million year-to-date as part of a $100 million full-year target. Returned $126 million in dividends and repurchases in 9 months, a 37% increase over the prior year.
Research Publishing Revenue up 4% at constant currency and adjusted EBITDA up 6%. Submissions and output up 26% and 11%, respectively. Growth driven by global R&D spend, AI productivity, and expansion in Open Access journals.
Learning Segment Revenue was down 2% in Q3, with a 5% decline in Professional offsetting 1% growth in Academic. Year-to-date, Learning revenue was down 7% with adjusted EBITDA down 8%. Segment EBITDA margin declined 50 basis points to 34.8%.
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- Revenue Growth: John Wiley & Sons reported a 1% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3, with Research Publishing driving a 4% revenue rise due to an 11% global output increase, despite soft market conditions in Learning, indicating strong performance in the research sector.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: The company doubled its share repurchase to $70 million in Q3, bringing the year-to-date total to $126 million, a 37% increase over the previous year, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing shareholder value supported by robust cash flow.
- AI Revenue Growth: Management anticipates AI revenue to reach $45 million to $50 million for fiscal 2026, up from $40 million in fiscal 2025, reflecting ongoing investments and strong market demand in the AI sector.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company raised its guidance for adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS for fiscal 2026, expecting EBITDA margins to finish at the high end of 25.5% to 26.5%, showcasing management's confidence in future growth and market opportunities.
- Earnings Beat: Ooma Inc reported Q4 earnings of $0.34 per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.30, indicating strong profitability growth and boosting market confidence in its future performance.
- Sales Growth: The company achieved quarterly sales of $74.584 million, exceeding the analyst consensus of $72.549 million, reflecting Ooma's solid performance in market demand and product sales, which helps increase its market share.
- Stock Surge: Ooma's shares jumped 11.3% to $14.46 during Thursday's session, reflecting a positive investor reaction to the company's financial performance, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Optimistic Outlook: Ooma issued FY27 adjusted EPS guidance above market expectations, further enhancing investor confidence in the company's long-term growth potential.
- Earnings Performance: John Wiley & Sons reported a Q3 non-GAAP EPS of $0.97, indicating stability in the company amidst a challenging economic environment, despite limited year-over-year growth.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q3 revenue of $410.04 million, reflecting a 1.3% year-over-year increase, demonstrating sustained demand in the education and publishing sectors despite structural risks.
- Share Repurchase Plan: John Wiley & Sons increased its share repurchase allocation to $100 million, aiming to enhance shareholder value and signal confidence in future growth prospects.
- Market Risk Warning: The company highlighted structural risks in higher education that could negatively impact its AI licensing business, necessitating close monitoring of market dynamics to adjust strategic approaches.
- Revenue and Profit Growth: Wiley reported Q3 revenue of $410 million, up 1% year-over-year, with operating income of $63 million reflecting a 21% increase, indicating robust performance in research and learning sectors that is likely to enhance market confidence.
- Adjusted Earnings Performance: The adjusted EPS reached $0.97, a 19% increase from the prior year's loss of $0.43, showcasing effective cost control and revenue growth strategies that improve investor return expectations.
- Growth in AI and Data Services: The company realized $7 million in AI revenue this quarter and approximately $42 million year-to-date, indicating that Wiley's strategic investments in AI are beginning to pay off, which is expected to drive future revenue growth and market share expansion.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: Wiley increased share repurchases to $35 million this quarter with a full-year target of $100 million, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns while reflecting strong cash flow and financial health.
- Earnings Announcement Date: John Wiley & Sons is set to release its Q3 earnings on March 5 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.86, reflecting a 2.4% year-over-year growth, indicating stable profitability.
- Revenue Outlook Decline: The expected revenue for Q3 is $391 million, down 3.5% year-over-year, highlighting challenges the company faces in the current economic environment, which may impact its market performance.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, John Wiley has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 100% of the time, demonstrating reliability and execution strength in financial forecasting.
- Forecast Revision Status: In the last three months, there have been no upward revisions to EPS estimates and one downward revision, while revenue estimates also saw no upward revisions and one downward revision, suggesting a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.







