John Wiley & Sons(US:WLY)2026-03-05 16:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue performance for Q3 2026 was up 1% on a reported basis and flat at constant currency, with adjusted operating income, adjusted EPS, and adjusted EBITDA all increasing by double digits: 22%, 19%, and 12% respectively [26][27] - Adjusted operating margin improved by 280 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin by 250 basis points [27] - Operating cash flow nearly doubled to $103 million, with free cash flow up $57 million year-to-date [6][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Research publishing revenue was up 4% at constant currency, with adjusted EBITDA up 6% [6][28] - Research solutions declined by 3% due to lower corporate spending on recruiting and database revenue [28] - Learning revenue was down 2%, with a 5% decline in professional offsetting 1% growth in academic [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global research publishing output increased by 11%, with revenue growth of 4% excluding AI revenue [5] - AI revenue reached a record $42 million year-to-date, surpassing last year's total of $40 million [8][19] - Strong demand was noted across all regions, with significant growth in submissions and output, particularly in China and India [33][54] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to lead in research publishing, with a focus on expanding its journal portfolio and enhancing its AI and data services [10][12] - A multi-year managed services partnership with Virtusa was announced to accelerate technology transformation and operational efficiencies [31][32] - The company is strategically investing in high-return growth opportunities, particularly in emerging markets like China and India [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of U.S. research funding and its importance for economic growth and competitiveness [11] - The company anticipates continued strong growth in research publishing and AI revenue, with expectations for margin expansion and cash flow growth [36][39] - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to customer needs in the evolving AI landscape [45] Other Important Information - The company has returned $126 million in dividends and share repurchases year-to-date, a 37% increase over the prior year [6] - The Advanced Journal brand, particularly Advanced Science, is expected to exceed $70 million in revenue in fiscal 2026, growing at strong double digits [13] - The company is actively managing its portfolio for profitability and strategic fit, including recent divestitures and acquisitions [34][35] Q&A Session Summary Question: What can you tell us about the momentum and direction of AI-related revenue? - Management noted that AI-related revenue is expected to triple next year, with a focus on recurring revenue models [44][46] Question: Can you elaborate on the partnership with Virtusa and its implications for EBITDA margins? - The partnership is expected to generate productivity and agility, contributing to margin expansion objectives [49][50] Question: Are there any fast-growing regions outside of China and India? - Growth is being observed across major global research markets, including North America and Europe, with a rebound in Japan [53][54] Question: How does the professional side of the business fit into the overall strategy? - The professional side produces strong earnings and cash flow, but the company is continuously evaluating its strategic fit [56] Question: What other strategies are in place to unlock shareholder value? - The company is focused on organic growth investments and disciplined capital allocation, with a strong emphasis on returning capital to shareholders [62]