Wiley research business grows as publisher hails ‘breakout year’
Wiley has reported continued growth in its research publishing business with the company citing record manuscript submissions, increased research output and growing demand for AI-related products and services.
The fourth-quarter results for 2025-26, in which the publisher said its Research division delivered five per cent revenue growth, come shortly after it completed its acquisition of Emerald Publishing.
Research and AI were the principal growth drivers behind what Wiley described as a strong year overall. AI-related revenue increased 23 per cent to $49 million, with the company reporting growing recurring revenues from partnerships and corporate customers. Total AI revenue has now surpassed $110 million, the company says.
For the financial year, total revenue was $1.677 billion, broadly flat compared with the previous year. Operating income increased 25 per cent to $277 million.
Operating cash flow increased 29 per cent to $261 million, while free cash flow rose 55 per cent to $195 million. Wiley also returned a record $174 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, including $100 million in share buybacks.
Commenting on the results, Matthew Kissner, president and chief executive officer of Wiley, said: “Fiscal 2026 was Wiley’s breakout year.
“We accelerated our two reinforcing growth engines – Research and AI and data analytics – while delivering record margins and a significant step change in Free Cash Flow. Research delivered mid-single digit growth on record submissions and output, and the recent acquisition of Emerald Publishing further extends our scale and proprietary content advantage in the AI economy.
“AI revenue grew double digits to nearly $50 million with a rapidly expanding recurring stream, anchored by landmark partnerships with IQVIA and OpenEvidence and a growing roster of corporate customers. With momentum across both growth engines and a proven playbook, we enter Fiscal 2027 with our strongest conviction yet.”