Pearson, PLC (NYSE:PSO) Given Average Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts rate Pearson “Hold” on average: Of seven analysts, five recommend holding, one recommends selling, and one recommends buying. Recent reports include downgrades from Kepler Capital Markets, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs.
• Pearson shares opened at $15.72, up 0.4%, with a 52-week range of $12.02 to $17.75. The stock’s 50-day and 200-day moving averages were $16.53 and $15.04, respectively.
• Institutional investors own 2.14% of Pearson, with several firms recently increasing or initiating positions. The company also announced a dividend payment of $0.1103 per share.

Shares of Pearson, PLC (NYSE:PSO - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Hold" from the seven analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Kepler Capital Markets lowered shares of Pearson from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Monday. Citigroup downgraded shares of Pearson from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Pearson in a report on Tuesday, September 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Pearson from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Pearson in a research note on Monday, August 3rd.

Pearson Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of Pearson stock opened at $15.72 on Thursday. Pearson has a 1 year low of $12.02 and a 1 year high of $17.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a current ratio of 2.00. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $16.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.04.

Pearson Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.1103 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 137.0%.

Institutional Trading of Pearson

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of PSO. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Pearson by 952.1% during the third quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,757 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,590 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Pearson during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in Pearson during the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Pearson by 86.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,613 shares of the company's stock worth $74,000 after buying an additional 2,604 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Pearson by 31.8% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 7,758 shares of the company's stock worth $110,000 after buying an additional 1,874 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.14% of the company's stock.

Pearson Company Profile

Pearson plc is a global education company headquartered in London, England, with significant operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Tracing its roots back to 1844, Pearson evolved from its early beginnings into one of the world's leading providers of educational content, digital learning tools, and assessment services. The company's American subsidiary trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PSO.

Pearson's core business encompasses a broad portfolio of products and services for learners, educators, and institutions.

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