John Wiley & Sons (WLY) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Sep 23, 2026: fair value of John Wiley & Sons $61.03, price $47.75, upside +27.8%, quality 70 out of 100. Calculated from audited financials with 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
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Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year, dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range $26.46 – $55.72 · fair‑value band $37.31 – $87.14 · the $47.75 price screens below the $61.03 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). Dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.
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John Wiley & Sons, Inc., a publisher, provides authoritative content, data-driven insights, and knowledge services for the advancement of science, innovation, and learning in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and internationally.
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John Wiley & Sons, Inc., a publisher, provides authoritative content, data-driven insights, and knowledge services for the advancement of science, innovation, and learning in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and internationally. The company's Research segment provides scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services in the areas of physical sciences and engineering, health sciences, social sciences, and humanities, and life sciences. This segment sells its products direct to research libraries and library consortia, as well as to researchers and professional society members, and other customers; and through independent subscription agents. The company's Learning segment offers scientific, professional, and education print and digital books; digital courseware to support students and instructors, and assessment services for businesses and professionals. This segment sells its products and services to business and leadership, technology, behavioral health, engineering/architecture, science, and professional education categories through brick-and-mortar and online retailers, wholesalers who supply such bookstores, college bookstores, individual practitioners, corporations, distributor networks, and government agencies. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. was founded in 1807 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Stock analysis
John Wiley & Sons (WLY) currently trades at $47.75, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $61.03, implying the stock looks roughly 21.8% undervalued today.
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Valuation
Bull case: the Growth Earnings group reads highest at a median of $72.47 per share, and 16 of the 25 models we run sit above the $47.75 price.
Bear case: the Asset-Based group reads lowest at $10.67, and 9 of the 25 models stay below the price. Evidence for this calculation is high.
Scenario range: $37.31 (bear) to $87.14 (bull), the price of $47.75 sits inside it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 70/100 (solid quality), in the Communication Services sector.
Mixed Growth: Spin-off in 2025: revenue and profit before it include the divested business. Growth is measured afresh from 2025.
John Wiley & Sons reported revenue of $1.7B in FY2026 versus $2.1B in FY2022, a compound −5.3%/yr. Reported net income was $222M in FY2026, compounding +10.6%/yr from FY2022.
Key figures
Market cap $2.5B · P/E ratio 12.0 · P/S ratio 1.58 · EPS (TTM) $4.16 · Dividend yield 3.0% · Net margin 13.2% · Return on equity 27.7% · Return on assets (EBIT) 8.2%.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 48 out of 100 (low confidence).
What moves the price
The share trades about 14% below its 52-week high and 69% above its 52-week low, currently above its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Communication Services peers we cover trades at 3% fair-value upside, at 28%, WLY screens cheaper than that median.
Fair Value models
Bear $37.31Fair Value $61.03Bull $87.14
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above is their evidence-weighted blend, not the output of a single model. Based on fiscal year 2026 figures (about 5 months old). Earnings retained since then ($1.10 per share) are deliberately not added.Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.Evidence ⓘEvidence = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card.55/100
Spin-off in 2025: revenue and profit before it include the divested business. Growth is measured afresh from 2025.
What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate. Basis: adjusted.
+1.1%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year−1.9%
Dividend (yield on the price)3.0%
Pace: 5 vs 10 years ⓘTwo data points, not a trend model: earnings growth per share over the last 5 fiscal years against the last 10. Labelled "steady" when both rates are within 3 percentage points of each other, otherwise picking up or flattening. Shown only when ten years of history exist.10% vs 5%, picking up
Profit margin 2020 to 2025 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.10% → 15%
Start year 2021 (pandemic)
Growth Forecast
A lot of optimism in the price
The price assumes more growth than the company has delivered so far.
What the price assumes ⓘThis turns our valuation around: instead of asking what the share is worth, it asks what growth the current price requires. It uses the cash the company keeps after all spending (free cash flow), the same discount rate as our models, five years of growth, then slowing evenly to 2 % a year by year ten. Compared with the analysts' sales forecasts extended to the same five years (at least three analysts, for context only, it does not enter the Fair Value): within 3 percentage points counts as "in line" (amber), below that little optimism (green), above that a lot of optimism (red).
+6.1%
Yearly growth needed for the next five years to justify today's price.
What forecasts expect
n/a
No analyst forecast available.
After inflation (USA: IMF forecast 2.4% a year to 2030, 3.1% from 2016 to 2025) that is about +3.6% a year for the price.
News mood ⓘNews mood, the average tone of recent news (95 articles), rated against how stocks are usually covered. 🚀 Hype = unusually upbeat · 🙂 Positive = above average · 😐 Neutral = typical · 🙁 Negative = below average · 😨 Very negative = unusually downbeat. It reflects the tone of coverage, not our valuation.Positive
Recent news coverage is more positive than average.
Price, fair value, quality and upside side by side.
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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Publishing · 108 stocks
Beats the industry median on 8/14 measures
A mixed picture versus its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score70 · Top 25%
Fair Value upside+28% · Above median
Profitability
Return on equity (TTM)28% · Top 25%
Return on assets7% · Top 25%
Net margin (TTM)13% · Top 25%
Operating margin (TTM)25% · Top 25%
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth1% · Above median
Dividend yield (TTM)3.0% · Below median
Balance sheet
Debt / equity0.79× · Highest 25%
Valuation Multiplesvs Publishing median · lower = cheaper
P/E (TTM)12.0× · Cheaper than median
P/B3.00× · book value is mostly goodwill ⓘGoodwill and other intangible assets are larger than the equity. The book value mainly reflects prices paid for past acquisitions, so we do not rank this P/B against the peer group.
For bloggers, editors and developers: paste this into your site or blog (a “Custom HTML” block in WordPress), it shows the current fair value and links back here. Free, plain HTML, and welcome. Full data streams (CSV/JSON) at /developers.
Cite: Fair Value Calculator (2026). "John Wiley & Sons Fair Value". https://www.fairvalue-calculator.com/stock/WLY
Frequently asked questions
Is John Wiley & Sons (WLY) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Sep 24, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $61.03 versus a price of $47.75, about +28% upside (undervalued).
What is the fair value of WLY?
Our model-based fair value for John Wiley & Sons is $61.03 (as of Sep 24, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: $47.75.
What is the quality score of WLY?
John Wiley & Sons has a Quality Score of 70/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $61.03 (as of Sep 24, 2026) from 25 valuation models. Cautious scenario $37.31, optimistic scenario $87.14. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the John Wiley & Sons stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $61.03, about +28% upside versus a price of $47.75 (undervalued). Cautious scenario $37.31, optimistic scenario $87.14. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
John Wiley & Sons reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $1.7B (latest available figure, as of Sep 24, 2026).
Does John Wiley & Sons pay a dividend?
John Wiley & Sons currently shows a dividend yield of about 2.97% relative to its recent price (as of Sep 24, 2026).
What growth is priced into John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
For today's price to be fair in a discounted-cash-flow model, John Wiley & Sons would have to grow free cash flow by +6.1 % per year for five years (discount rate 9.2 %, then slowing evenly to 2 % perpetual growth by year ten). Over the last 5 years revenue grew -2.9 % per year. As of Sep 24, 2026.
What discount rate (WACC) does the fair value of WLY use?
Our models discount John Wiley & Sons at 9.2 %: a base by market capitalisation (mid), damped by beta 0.77, country premium for USA. The same rate applies in all 26 models.
What is a reverse DCF?
A reverse DCF turns the usual calculation around. Instead of deriving a value from assumptions, it takes today's price as given and asks: what free-cash-flow growth would a company have to deliver for exactly this price to be fair? The result is not a forecast but the expectation already priced in. For John Wiley & Sons that is +6.1 % per year a year over ten years, using the same discount rate (9.2 %) and the same formula as our fair value.
How much growth has John Wiley & Sons (WLY) delivered so far?
Over the past 5 years revenue at John Wiley & Sons grew -2.9 % a year. The price currently implies +6.1 % per year free-cash-flow growth a year. Comparing the two shows how much confidence is in the price: if it demands more than has been delivered, the business has to accelerate for the maths to work.
How fast is the sector of John Wiley & Sons (WLY) growing?
The median revenue growth in the sector is +1.6 % a year. That is the yardstick for the growth priced into John Wiley & Sons (+6.1 % per year a year): it shows whether the expectation is within the usual range or beyond it.
What is the free cash flow yield of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The free-cash-flow yield on the price is 6.95 %: that much free cash flow John Wiley & Sons produces per unit of market value. When it exceeds the discount rate of our models (9.2 %), the business already earns more than its cost of capital demands, and the price needs little additional growth.
What is the intrinsic value of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For John Wiley & Sons it is $61.03 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026), against a price of $47.75. It is the blended result of 25 valuation models (cash flow, earnings, asset, dividend).
Is John Wiley & Sons stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Sep 24, 2026, WLY trades below its calculated fair value: price $47.75, fair value $61.03, a gap of about +28% (undervalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of WLY?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($47.75); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($61.03). For John Wiley & Sons the two are $13.28 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is John Wiley & Sons worth?
The market values John Wiley & Sons at about $2.5B (market capitalisation, as of Sep 24, 2026). Per share that is $47.75; our models calculate a fair value of $61.03 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about WLY?
Our models span a range for John Wiley & Sons: cautious scenario $37.31, base $61.03, optimistic $87.14 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026, price $47.75). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of WLY?
John Wiley & Sons trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.0 (as of Sep 24, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of $61.03 is built from several models across several years. Other multiples: PEG 13.0, P/B 3.0, P/S 1.5, EV/EBITDA 8.9.
What is the PEG ratio of WLY?
The PEG ratio of John Wiley & Sons is 13.05 (P/E divided by earnings growth, as of Sep 24, 2026). That is above 1, so the growth is already paid for in the price.
How solid is the balance sheet of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
Balance-sheet figures for John Wiley & Sons (as of Sep 24, 2026): return on equity 27.7%, debt of 0.79 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 70/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is WLY from its 52-week high?
John Wiley & Sons trades at $47.75, about 14% below its 52-week high of $55.72 and 69% above the low of $28.33 (as of Sep 23, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $61.03 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to John Wiley & Sons?
From the same area (Communication Services) we also value The New York Times Company, Jiangsu Phoenix Publishing & Media Corporation, China Science Publishing & Media Ltd, People.cn CO., LTD, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is John Wiley & Sons stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Sep 24, 2026: price $47.75, calculated fair value $61.03 (+28%), Quality Score 70/100, from 25 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of WLY calculated?
We run John Wiley & Sons through 25 models from four families: discounted cash flow, earnings models, asset and balance-sheet models, and dividend models. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the result is the weighted average of $61.03, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 14.1 % above its aggregate fair value. John Wiley & Sons currently trades 28 % below its own fair value, and the market average says nothing about that. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The closing price on Sep 23, 2026 was $47.75. Our model-based fair value is $61.03, about +28% upside (undervalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with John Wiley & Sons right now?
The rarer combination: high quality (70/100) AND below fair value. That earns a closer look rather than a quick verdict. A fairly wide model range ($37.31 to $87.14) leaves room in how you read the outcome.
Where does the earnings growth of John Wiley & Sons (WLY) come from?
Earnings per share at John Wiley & Sons grew +1.4 % a year from 2015 to 2026. Broken into its drivers: revenue per share +0.4 %, EBIT margin +1.7 %, tax rate +1.6 %, residual (interest, one-offs) −2.2 %. The four rates multiply to the earnings growth rate, they do not add up. Start and end are three-year averages so a single exceptional year does not distort the result.
Key figures of John Wiley & Sons
How large is the market capitalisation of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The market capitalisation of John Wiley & Sons is $2.5B. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The price-to-sales ratio of John Wiley & Sons is 1.58 (P/E × margin). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
Earnings per share at John Wiley & Sons are $4.16 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 12.0). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the dividend yield of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The dividend yield of John Wiley & Sons is 3.0% (payout 34.1%). Yearly dividend relative to the share price. 3% pays 3 per 100 invested. Below: how much of profit is used for it.
What is the net margin of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The net margin of John Wiley & Sons is 13.2% (fiscal year 2026). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The return on equity (ROE) of John Wiley & Sons is 27.7% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of John Wiley & Sons is 8.2% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
The operating margin of John Wiley & Sons is 24.7% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
Revenue at John Wiley & Sons is growing +1.2% versus a year earlier (3y avg −6.0%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at John Wiley & Sons (WLY)?
Earnings per share at John Wiley & Sons are growing +108% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much net debt does John Wiley & Sons (WLY) carry?
The net debt of John Wiley & Sons is $693M (fiscal year 2026, ≈ 3.9 yrs of FCF). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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Broad data
Sep 24, 2026