Shares of John Wiley & Sons (NYSE: WLY) surged 12.25% in intraday trading on Tuesday after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and provided an optimistic outlook for fiscal 2026. The educational publishing and research company's performance exceeded analyst expectations, driving investor enthusiasm.

For the fourth quarter ended April 30, John Wiley & Sons reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.37, surpassing the analyst estimate of $1.27. The company's Q4 revenue came in at $442.58 million, also beating the consensus estimate of $434.90 million. Notably, the Research segment showed particular strength, with Q4 revenue growing 4% as reported and 3% at constant currency, driven by solid performance in recurring revenue publishing models and open access.

Adding to the positive sentiment, Wiley raised its adjusted EBITDA margin target to a range of 25.5% to 26.5% for fiscal 2026, citing anticipated cost savings, efficiency gains, and revenue growth. The company also provided a strong outlook for fiscal 2026, expecting adjusted earnings per share in the range of $3.90 to $4.35, above the analyst expectation of $3.80. This combination of strong current performance and positive future guidance has sparked investor confidence, leading to the significant stock price surge.