David Dobson, a director at
John Wiley & Sons (WLY), recently bought 5,081 shares. The buy increased his stake by 64 percent, and came to a total cost of $152,357.
Dobson was the most recent insider buyer with a 3,000 share pickup back in June. That buy increased his position by over 60 percent, and cost just under $95,000. Otherwise, the year has seen some small sales from company executives
Overall, company insiders own 9.3 percent of shares.
The publishing and education company is down nearly 25 percent over the past year. Revenues are off nearly 8 percent, and Wiley hasn’t turned a profit in the most recent quarter.
Shares trade at a respectable 15 times earnings, and the publishing industry is dominated by an oligopoly of players including Wiley. While book sales are hardly a growth industry, the oligopoly market can remain profitable for investors over time.
Action to take: Investors may want to consider a stake here, with shares near a 52-week low, as a year-end rebound play. Wiley shares currently pay a 4.8 percent dividend, but if earnings don’t improve, that could be in line for a cut.
For traders, the March 2024 $35 calls, last going for about $1.30, could see mid-to-high double-digit returns on a rally from here. Traders may want to take profits quickly, rather than hold the trade until expiration.
Disclosure: The author of this article has no position in the company mentioned here, but may trade after the next 72 hours. The author receives no compensation from any of the companies mentioned in this article.