Does Wiley’s (WLY) Bigger Buybacks and 32-Year Dividend Streak Redefine Its Capital Allocation Story?

• John Wiley & Sons, Inc. recently reported fiscal Q2 2026 results showing slightly lower sales of US$421.75 million but higher net income of US$44.89 million, and completed a US$177.54 million buyback program while authorizing up to US$250 million in new repurchases.
• The company also lifted its quarterly dividend for the 32nd straight year and increased its Fiscal 2026 buyback allocation to US$100 million, underscoring management’s confidence in long-term demand for its content and AI-related licensing.
• Next, we’ll examine how Wiley’s enlarged buyback authorization and dividend increase shape its investment narrative and capital allocation outlook.

Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

John Wiley & Sons Investment Narrative Recap

To own Wiley, you need to believe it can keep shifting from legacy print toward higher margin digital research, open access and AI licensing, while managing structural pressure on traditional publishing. The latest quarter’s slightly softer sales but higher earnings, plus the enlarged US$250 million buyback authorization and rising dividend, do not materially change that near term. The key catalyst remains execution in research and AI, while the biggest risk is still revenue volatility as AI related deals ebb and flow.

The most relevant update here is Wiley’s decision to boost its Fiscal 2026 repurchase allocation to US$100 million, following completion of US$177.54 million of buybacks under the 2020 program. Coupled with 32 consecutive years of dividend increases, this frames the stock as a capital return story tied to progress in AI licensing and digital research, but it also raises the stakes if AI revenue proves lumpier than expected.

Yet behind Wiley’s richer capital returns, there is a growing risk investors should be aware of if AI content licensing growth...

Read the full narrative on John Wiley & Sons (it's free!)

John Wiley & Sons' narrative projects $1.8 billion revenue and $266.1 million earnings by 2028. This requires 1.5% yearly revenue growth and a $181.9 million earnings increase from $84.2 million today.

Uncover how John Wiley & Sons' forecasts yield a $60.00 fair value, a 89% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

Three members of the Simply Wall St Community currently see Wiley’s fair value between US$44.09 and US$60 per share, underlining how far views can spread. Set against this, the uncertainty around AI content licensing and its impact on future revenue gives you a clear reason to compare several different risk assessments before deciding how Wiley fits into your portfolio.

Explore 3 other fair value estimates on John Wiley & Sons - why the stock might be worth as much as 89% more than the current price!

Build Your Own John Wiley & Sons Narrative

Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes - extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

• A great starting point for your John Wiley & Sons research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
• Our free John Wiley & Sons research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate John Wiley & Sons' overall financial health at a glance.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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