John Wiley & Sons (WLY)

The analysis of John Wiley & Sons' Return on Equity (ROE) over the provided period indicates significant fluctuations, reflecting varying levels of profitability relative to shareholders’ equity. As of April 30, 2021, the company's ROE stood at 13.59%, suggesting a healthy return and effective utilization of shareholders’ equity. In the following year, April 30, 2022, the ROE declined slightly to 12.98%, indicating a marginal decrease in profitability, yet remaining within a stable range.

However, a notable decline is observed by April 30, 2023, when the ROE drastically decreased to 1.65%. This sharp reduction could be symptomatic of underlying challenges, such as increased expenses, reduced net income, or changes in equity structure. The downward trend continued into April 30, 2024, with the ROE turning negative at -27.08%, signaling that the company was experiencing net losses relative to shareholders' equity during that period. Such a negative ROE is typically a strong indicator of financial distress or significant operational difficulties.

It is also noteworthy that no data is available beyond April 30, 2024, for a subsequent ROE figure, suggesting either the company did not report or the data was not available at the time. The observed trend highlights a stark deterioration in profitability and financial performance over this timeframe. The transition from positive, stable ROE figures to a deeply negative value underscores the importance of examining underlying factors such as revenue declines, margin compression, extraordinary expenses, or changes in the composition of equity to understand the causes behind this decline comprehensively.

In summary, the longitudinal analysis of John Wiley & Sons' ROE reveals an initial period of stable profitability, followed by a pronounced deterioration leading to losses, emphasizing potential financial stress in recent periods.

Peer comparison

Apr 30, 2025