John Wiley & Sons (WLY)
Quick ratio
| Apr 30, 2025 | Jan 31, 2025 | Oct 31, 2024 | Jul 31, 2024 | Apr 30, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 | Oct 31, 2023 | Jul 31, 2023 | Apr 30, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 | Oct 31, 2022 | Jul 31, 2022 | Apr 30, 2022 | Jan 31, 2022 | Oct 31, 2021 | Jul 31, 2021 | Apr 30, 2021 | Jan 31, 2021 | Oct 31, 2020 | Jul 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | US$ in thousands | 85,882 | 104,510 | 75,536 | 82,545 | 83,351 | 93,204 | 83,218 | 75,144 | 106,714 | 126,449 | 118,423 | 104,495 | 100,397 | 109,444 | 100,898 | 82,982 | 93,795 | 91,321 | 86,063 | 101,385 |
| Short-term investments | US$ in thousands | — | — | — | — | 154 | 2,500 | 4,800 | 7,200 | 6,400 | 500 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 900 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Receivables | US$ in thousands | 228,410 | 184,672 | 183,015 | 192,153 | 224,198 | 161,009 | 147,253 | 153,392 | 310,121 | 283,654 | 260,026 | 281,443 | 331,960 | 267,988 | 291,891 | 284,579 | 311,571 | 278,939 | 273,264 | 282,412 |
| Total current liabilities | US$ in thousands | 820,856 | 717,258 | 561,471 | 688,791 | 873,282 | 712,139 | 610,250 | 705,939 | 895,553 | 760,969 | 634,577 | 780,744 | 969,419 | 821,481 | 644,509 | 763,101 | 988,972 | 842,076 | 634,736 | 716,136 |
| Quick ratio | 0.38 | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.40 | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.39 | 0.33 | 0.47 | 0.54 | 0.60 | 0.50 | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.61 | 0.48 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.57 | 0.54 |
April 30, 2025 calculation
Quick ratio = (Cash + Short-term investments + Receivables) ÷ Total current liabilities
= ($85,882K
+ $—K
+ $228,410K)
÷ $820,856K
= 0.38
The analysis of John Wiley & Sons' quick ratio over the specified period reveals a generally cautious liquidity profile characterized by fluctuations within a relatively narrow range. Starting at 0.54 as of July 31, 2020, the ratio maintained a modest upward trend, reaching a peak of 0.61 in October 2021, indicating improved short-term liquidity during that time. This increase suggests the company's enhanced ability to meet its immediate obligations without relying on inventories.
However, following this peak, the quick ratio experienced a gradual decline, falling to 0.33 by July 31, 2023. The decrease reflects a reduction in liquid assets relative to current liabilities, potentially indicating tightening liquidity conditions or strategic shifts in asset composition. Despite the decline, the ratio remained above 0.30, implying that the company still maintains a reasonable level of short-term liquidity, albeit with less cautious buffers than earlier periods.
Subsequently, the quick ratio shows signs of modest recovery, increasing to 0.46 as of October 31, 2024, before experiencing further slight declines to 0.35 by April 30, 2024, and a slight uptick to 0.46 by October 31, 2024. The ratios remain below or around the 0.5 mark, suggesting a conservative liquidity stance typical of firms with a focus on maintaining operational stability despite a downward trend from earlier highs.
Overall, the trend depicts a period of relative stability punctuated by periods of liquidity tightening. The fluctuations indicate that while the company maintains a prudent approach to liquidity management, its ability to quickly cover short-term liabilities without liquidating inventories has diminished somewhat since the peak in late 2021. Nonetheless, the ratios consistently remain above the generally critical threshold of 0.3, signifying that the company's short-term liquidity position is still within acceptable bounds, although it warrants close monitoring to ensure continued financial flexibility.
Peer comparison
Apr 30, 2025