John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLY) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Revenue Revenue was up 1%, driven by Research growth of 5%, offsetting an expected 6% decline in Learning. This year-over-year swing stemmed from a $6 million licensing renewal in the prior year and softness this quarter in academic books.
Adjusted EPS Adjusted EPS increased 39% due to higher adjusted operating income and a lower adjusted effective tax rate.
Operating Margin Operating margin rose 280 basis points to 14.2%.
Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA grew 4%, reflecting revenue growth, partially offset by investments in growth and productivity initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter was 23.2%, up from 22.7%.
Adjusted Operating Income Adjusted operating income up 38%.
Free Cash Flow Free cash flow is expected to meet guidance of approximately $125 million, an improvement from $114 million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA for Research Adjusted EBITDA for Research increased 12% for the quarter and 5% year-to-date, reflecting revenue growth and cost savings, partially offset by investments in growth and productivity.
Adjusted EBITDA for Learning Adjusted EBITDA for the Learning segment decreased 5% this quarter, reflecting revenue performance.
Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio Net debt-to-EBITDA ratio was 2.0 at the end of January, compared to 1.9 in the prior year period.
Dividend Yield Current dividend yield is over 3.5%.
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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.
- 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 Release Schedule: Wiley is set to announce its Q3 2026 results before market open on March 5, 2026, highlighting its ongoing leadership in scientific discovery and innovation, which is expected to impact investor confidence positively.
- Conference Call Timing: The company has scheduled a conference call at 10am ET on the same day to discuss the results, aiming to enhance investor engagement through transparent communication and improve market expectations for its future growth.
- Investor Relations Access: Investors can participate in the call via Wiley's investor relations website or directly through the provided webcast link, ensuring broad dissemination of information and enhancing the company's transparency.
- Company Background Overview: With over 200 years of publishing heritage, Wiley stands as a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence, leveraging AI technology to transform knowledge discovery and application, thereby solidifying its central role in the scholarly ecosystem.
- Strong Earnings Performance: Teradata reported earnings of 74 cents per share, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of 56 cents, indicating robust profitability that boosts investor confidence.
- Sales Growth: The company's quarterly sales reached $421 million, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $400.817 million, suggesting sustained strong market demand that could drive future business expansion.
- Stock Price Surge: Teradata shares jumped 16.5% to $34.07 in pre-market trading, reflecting a positive market reaction to the earnings report, which may attract more investor interest.
- Significant Market Impact: This earnings beat not only lifted the company's stock price but could also positively influence investor sentiment across the industry, further solidifying Teradata's market position in the data analytics sector.

- Increased Repurchase Allocation: Wiley has raised its Fiscal 2026 share repurchase allocation to $100 million from $60 million, reflecting strong confidence in future growth and aiming to enhance shareholder value through strategic buybacks.
- Consistent Dividend Growth: The company has increased its quarterly dividend for the 32nd consecutive year, showcasing stable cash flow and profitability, which further boosts investor confidence in its financial health.
- Strong Margin Expansion: In Q2, Wiley achieved a 250 basis point improvement in adjusted operating margin to 18.8%, driven by robust global demand for research publishing and licensing, indicating sustainable business growth.
- Successful AI Licensing Projects: The company executed a $6 million content licensing project, realizing $35 million year-to-date, demonstrating increasing market demand in AI models and corporate applications, thereby solidifying its leadership position in the industry.

- Earnings Release Schedule: Wiley will release its Q2 2026 earnings prior to market open on December 4, 2025, reflecting the company's ongoing leadership in scientific discovery and learning.
- Conference Call Details: The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 AM ET on the same day to discuss the earnings results in depth and engage with investors.
- Investor Relations Access: Investors can participate in the webcast via the company's investor relations page or directly through the provided link, ensuring transparency and timely communication.
- Global Impact: As a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence, Wiley is committed to transforming scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, further solidifying its critical role in the scholarly ecosystem.






