WLYB
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Publishing
Market Cap$2.27B
5Y Perf.+3.5%
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Stock Comparison
WLYB vs NWSA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NWSA
News Corporation
Entertainment
Market Cap$15.26B
5Y Perf.+120.6%
WLYB vs NWSA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WLYB | NWSA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $2.27B | $15.26B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.67B | $9.03B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $154M | $1.15B |
| Gross Margin | 72.5% | 34.9% |
| Operating Margin | 15.3% | 11.3% |
| Forward P/E | 9.9x | 25.7x |
| Total Debt | $899M | $2.94B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $86M | $2.40B |
WLYB vs NWSA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WLYB
NWSA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Wiley & Sons, … (WLYB) | 100 | 103.5 | +3.5% |
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 100 | 220.6 | +120.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WLYB vs NWSA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NWSA leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
WLYB
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Income Pick
WLYB is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta -0.11, yield 3.3%
- Beta -0.11, yield 3.3%, current ratio 0.54x
- Lower P/E (9.9x vs 25.7x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
NWSA
News Corporation
The Growth Play
NWSA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 2.4%, EPS growth 350.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -6.6%
- 136.3% 10Y total return vs WLYB's 9.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.59, Low D/E 31.3%, current ratio 1.84x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NWSA | 2.4% revenue growth vs WLYB's -10.4% |
| Value | WLYB | Lower P/E (9.9x vs 25.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | NWSA | 12.7% margin vs WLYB's 9.2% |
| Stability / Safety | NWSA | Lower D/E ratio (31.3% vs 119.5%) |
| Dividends | WLYB | 3.3% yield, vs NWSA's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WLYB | -2.6% vs NWSA's -4.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NWSA | 7.4% ROA vs WLYB's 6.0%, ROIC 6.8% vs 10.7% |
WLYB vs NWSA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
WLYB vs NWSA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWLYBLAGGINGNWSA
NWSANews Corporation
1leads
WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons, In…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NWSAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
WLYB4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NWSA4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WLYB2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — WLYB and NWSA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NWSA is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.0B annually — 5.4x WLYB's $1.7B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.7% (NWSA) to 9.2% (WLYB). On growth, NWSA holds the edge at +8.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons… | NWSANews Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.7B | $9.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $402M | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $154M | $1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $190M | $566M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.5% | +34.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +11.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | +12.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.4% | +6.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.3% | +8.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.3% | +6.1% |
Evenly matched — WLYB and NWSA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
WLYB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.1x trailing earnings, NWSA trades at a 52% valuation discount to WLYB's 27.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WLYB's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NWSA's 11.2x.
| Metric | WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons… | NWSANews Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.3B | $15.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.1B | $15.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.09x | 13.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.87x | 25.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.35x | 11.16x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.35x | 1.81x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.02x | 1.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.97x | 20.99x |
WLYB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — WLYB and NWSA each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WLYB delivers a 20.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $12 for NWSA. NWSA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WLYB's 1.20x.
| Metric | WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons… | NWSANews Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.8% | +12.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.0% | +7.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.7% | +6.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +7.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.20x | 0.31x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $813M | $537M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $86M | $2.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $899M | $2.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.16x | 127.43x |
Evenly matched — WLYB and NWSA each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NWSA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NWSA five years ago would be worth $10,211 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,803 for WLYB. Over the past 12 months, WLYB leads with a -2.6% total return vs NWSA's -4.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NWSA at 17.2% vs WLYB's 7.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons… | NWSANews Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +34.1% | +3.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.6% | -4.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.8% | +61.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.0% | +2.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.4% | +136.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.7% | +17.2% |
NWSA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WLYB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WLYB is the less volatile stock with a -0.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NWSA's 0.59 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WLYB currently trades 91.3% from its 52-week high vs NWSA's 85.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons… | NWSANews Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.11x | 0.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $45.41 | $31.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.16 | $22.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.3% | +85.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.5 | 66.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 669 | 4.2M |
WLYB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — WLYB and NWSA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WLYB as "Hold" and NWSA as "Buy". For income investors, WLYB offers the higher dividend yield at 3.35% vs NWSA's 1.20%.
| Metric | WLYBJohn Wiley & Sons… | NWSANews Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $32.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.39 | $0.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.7% | +1.0% |
Evenly matched — WLYB and NWSA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WLYB leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). NWSA leads in 1 (Total Returns). 3 tied.
Best OverallJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLYB)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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WLYB vs NWSA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WLYB or NWSA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, News Corporation (NWSA) is the stronger pick with 2.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 4% for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLYB). News Corporation (NWSA) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (25. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate News Corporation (NWSA) a "Buy" — based on 28 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — WLYB or NWSA?
On trailing P/E, News Corporation (NWSA) is the cheapest at 13.
1x versus John Wiley & Sons, Inc. at 27. 1x. On forward P/E, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WLYB or NWSA?
Over the past 5 years, News Corporation (NWSA) delivered a total return of +2.
1%, compared to -22. 0% for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLYB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NWSA returned +136. 3% versus WLYB's +9. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — WLYB or NWSA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
(WLYB) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 11β versus News Corporation's 0. 59β — meaning NWSA is approximately -648% more volatile than WLYB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, News Corporation (NWSA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 120% for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WLYB or NWSA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), News Corporation (NWSA) is pulling ahead at 2.
4% versus -10. 4% for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLYB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: News Corporation grew EPS 350. 0% year-over-year, compared to 141. 9% for John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NWSA leads at -6. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — WLYB or NWSA?
News Corporation (NWSA) is the more profitable company, earning 14.
0% net margin versus 5. 0% for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WLYB leads at 13. 2% versus 11. 3% for NWSA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWSA leads at 100. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is WLYB or NWSA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
(WLYB) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 25. 7x for News Corporation — 15. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — WLYB or NWSA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (WLYB) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 1. 2% for News Corporation (NWSA).
09Is WLYB or NWSA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
(WLYB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 11), 3. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WLYB: +9. 4%, NWSA: +136. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between WLYB and NWSA?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: WLYB is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NWSA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(WLYB: 1.3% · NWSA: 8.9%)Net Margin>
%
(WLYB: 9.2% · NWSA: 12.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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