John Wiley & Sons (WLY)
Profitability ratios
Return on sales
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross profit margin | 72.75% | 72.41% | 70.28% | 68.70% | 67.62% | 66.64% | 66.30% | 65.94% | 65.71% | 65.41% | 65.88% | 65.96% | 66.36% | 67.12% | 67.34% | 67.65% | 67.79% | 67.66% | 67.59% | 67.77% |
| Operating profit margin | 13.20% | 13.19% | 12.68% | 11.24% | 10.61% | 10.43% | 4.29% | 4.81% | 3.90% | 2.69% | 8.13% | 8.85% | 10.53% | 10.23% | 9.82% | 9.83% | 9.56% | -1.94% | -1.20% | -1.57% |
| Pretax margin | 8.52% | 8.49% | 0.78% | -3.14% | -9.99% | -8.05% | -6.15% | -2.53% | 1.64% | -0.03% | 5.81% | 6.83% | 10.07% | 10.04% | 9.42% | 9.52% | 9.06% | -2.26% | -1.36% | -2.03% |
| Net profit margin | 5.02% | 2.43% | -2.82% | -6.00% | -10.70% | -8.14% | -5.85% | -2.88% | 0.85% | -0.39% | 4.79% | 5.60% | 7.12% | 7.06% | 6.53% | 7.29% | 7.64% | -2.72% | -2.03% | -3.35% |
The profitability ratios for John Wiley & Sons demonstrate notable trends over the specified period, reflecting the company's evolving financial performance from July 2020 through April 2025.
Gross Profit Margin
The gross profit margin has shown a consistent upward trajectory, commencing at approximately 67.77% in July 2020 and gradually increasing to 72.75% by April 2025. This steady increase indicates an improvement in the company’s ability to manage production costs relative to revenues, suggesting enhanced efficiency or favorable pricing strategies. The margin remained relatively stable in the initial years, fluctuating minimally around 67%, before accelerating notably in late 2023 and into 2024, culminating in the highest reported figure of 72.75% in April 2025. This pattern reflects a solid gross profitability trend, likely driven by either increased revenues at maintained or reduced cost margins.
Operating Profit Margin
The operating profit margin exhibits significant variability, transitioning from negative values to positive figures over the analyzed period. Initially, the margin was negative at -1.57% in July 2020, indicating operational losses, and remained below zero through early 2021. A marked turnaround appears around April 2021, with the margin rising sharply to 9.56%, sustained through subsequent quarters, peaking at 12.68% in October 2024. The upward trend signifies improving operational efficiency and profitability, possibly due to better cost control, revenue growth, or strategic restructuring. Despite some fluctuations, the overall trend suggests a gradual recovery from earlier losses toward healthier operational margins.
Pretax Margin
Similarly, the pretax margin shows a transition from negative figures to positive territory. Starting at -2.03% in July 2020, the margin dipped further into negative zones at times, such as -6.15% in October 2023 and reaching a low of -9.99% in April 2024. Nevertheless, the pretax margin exhibits a positive trend in late 2024 and early 2025, reaching 8.52% in April 2025. These oscillations reflect variability in pre-tax profitability, likely influenced by non-operating factors such as interest expenses, currency fluctuations, or extraordinary items, before improving notably in early 2025.
Net Profit Margin
The net profit margin consolidates trends observed in the margins above, starting from negative values around -3.35% in July 2020, with declines into deeper negative territory by mid-2024, reaching as low as -10.70%. The persistent negative margins through 2023 and mid-2024 point to ongoing challenges in translating operational profits into net income, potentially impacted by higher taxes, interest costs, or other expenses. However, a reversal occurs in late 2024 and early 2025, with net margins turning positive, reaching 2.43% in January 2025 and increasing further to 5.02% by April 2025. This positive shift suggests improved bottom-line performance, potentially driven by operational efficiency gains, reduction in expenses, or favorable tax adjustments.
Overall Assessment
In summary, John Wiley & Sons demonstrated a strong and improving gross profit margin throughout the analyzed period, reflecting enhanced revenue management or cost efficiencies. The operating, pretax, and net profit margins depicted a recovery from earlier losses, with marked improvements beginning in late 2023 and sustaining into 2024 and 2025. The pattern indicates a strategic turnaround, with profitability metrics trending upward from negative to positive figures, reflecting improved operational execution and overall financial health stabilization in recent periods.
Return on investment
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating return on assets (Operating ROA) | 8.23% | 8.64% | 8.55% | 7.74% | 7.29% | 7.44% | 3.03% | 3.26% | 2.54% | 1.74% | 5.37% | 5.71% | 6.52% | 6.28% | 5.99% | 5.84% | 5.38% | -1.06% | -0.74% | -0.94% |
| Return on assets (ROA) | 3.13% | 1.59% | -1.90% | -4.13% | -7.35% | -5.81% | -4.13% | -1.95% | 0.55% | -0.25% | 3.16% | 3.61% | 4.41% | 4.34% | 3.98% | 4.33% | 4.30% | -1.49% | -1.25% | -2.01% |
| Return on total capital | 23.00% | 28.99% | 9.35% | 0.33% | -17.26% | -12.61% | -7.45% | -0.15% | 7.09% | 2.99% | 13.44% | 14.98% | 19.95% | 20.30% | 19.09% | 19.35% | 17.80% | -2.07% | -0.32% | -1.33% |
| Return on equity (ROE) | 11.19% | 6.03% | -6.57% | -15.34% | -27.08% | -21.01% | -13.24% | -6.10% | 1.65% | -0.78% | 9.17% | 10.78% | 12.98% | 13.09% | 12.04% | 13.52% | 13.59% | -4.81% | -3.71% | -6.32% |
The profitability ratios of John Wiley & Sons over the analyzed period reveal notable variations and trend patterns indicative of the company's evolving financial performance.
Operating Return on Assets (Operating ROA):
Initially, during July 2020 through October 2021, the company experienced significant negative operating ROA, with values such as -0.94%, -0.74%, and -1.06%, reflecting operational difficulties or reduced efficiency. Starting from April 2021, a substantial positive shift occurred, with Operating ROA improving sharply to 5.38% and continuing upward to reach a peak of 8.64% in January 2025. This trend suggests enhanced operational efficiency and profitability starting in 2021, with sustained improvement into 2024 and early 2025.
Return on Assets (ROA):
Similarly, the ROA reflected compounded challenges initially, with values like -2.01% and -1.25% in 2020. A rebound is observed from April 2021, with ROA turning positive at 4.30% and peaking around 4.41% in April 2022. However, starting mid-2022, the ratio declines sharply into negative territory, reaching as low as -7.35% in April 2024. Notably, from January 2024 onward, ROA shows signs of recovery, rising to positive figures such as 1.59% in January 2025, indicating a recent resurgence in asset profitability.
Return on Total Capital:
The return on total capital mirrors trends seen in operating metrics, starting with negative values in 2020 and early 2021. A significant positive spike occurs in April 2021, with a return of 17.80%, rising further into 2021 and 2022. After peaking around 20.30% in January 2022, the ratio experiences a decline, turning negative by mid-2023, reaching as low as -17.26% in April 2024. Since late 2024, a marked recovery is observed, culminating in a robust 28.99% in January 2025, suggesting that recent investments and operational strategies have begun to generate meaningful returns.
Return on Equity (ROE):
The ROE experienced a period of considerable negative values through 2020 and early 2021, with figures like -6.32% and -4.81%. A positive turnaround occurred in April 2021, with ROE increasing to 13.59%, maintaining generally positive values through 2022. However, starting from late 2022, the ROE declined sharply into negative territory, with extreme lows such as -27.08% in April 2024. Nonetheless, the latest data indicates a significant improvement, with ROE rising to positive 6.03% in January 2025, reflecting a recent return to profitable equity utilization.
Overall, the profitability ratios of John Wiley & Sons display a pattern characterized by periods of underperformance and significant turnaround phases. The initial challenging phase transitioned into a period of strong profitability around 2021-2022, followed by a downturn in 2023-2024, possibly linked to market or operational headwinds. The recent upward trend in early 2025 suggests a recovery and potential stabilization of profitability metrics, contingent on sustained operational efficiencies and strategic initiatives.