Wiley Shares Surge on Strong Q4 Results and Upbeat 2026 Outlook

John Wiley & Sons (NYSE:WLY) saw its stock climb over 10% intra-day today after delivering a fourth-quarter earnings beat and offering a confident outlook for fiscal 2026, signaling stability in its core publishing operations despite some segment-specific headwinds.

For the quarter, the academic publisher reported adjusted earnings of $1.37 per share, ahead of the $1.31 analyst consensus. Revenue reached $443 million, topping expectations of $434.9 million.

Growth was driven primarily by Wiley’s Research division—home to its scientific journals—which posted a 4% year-over-year revenue increase to $280.7 million. The Learning segment, however, saw a 5% decline to $161.9 million, reflecting a drop in AI licensing revenue compared to the prior year.

Looking to fiscal 2026, the company issued guidance for earnings per share between $2.78 and $3.64, slightly bracketing the Street’s $3.55 estimate. Projected revenue is expected to fall between $1.62 billion and $1.66 billion, just shy of consensus expectations.

Despite the modest revenue forecast, Wiley reaffirmed its commitment to profitability, targeting an adjusted EBITDA margin between 25.5% and 26.5%, signaling strong operational discipline as it navigates a shifting academic and digital publishing landscape.