Pearson (LON:PSON) Stock Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average of $976.23

Shares of Pearson plc (LON:PSON - Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 976.23 ($12.26) and traded as high as GBX 998.40 ($12.54). Pearson shares last traded at GBX 984.20 ($12.36), with a volume of 1,377,979 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PSON has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays lowered their target price on Pearson from GBX 975 ($12.25) to GBX 965 ($12.12) and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Pearson from GBX 1,200 ($15.07) to GBX 1,220 ($15.32) and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 20th. Finally, Shore Capital reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Pearson in a report on Friday, April 26th.

Pearson Trading Up 0.3 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.19. The firm has a market cap of £6.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,862.64, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.31. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 1,007.24 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 976.71.

Pearson Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st were paid a GBX 15.70 ($0.20) dividend. This is an increase from Pearson's previous dividend of $7.00. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 21st. This represents a dividend yield of 1.63%. Pearson's dividend payout ratio is presently 4,339.62%.

Insider Transactions at Pearson

In related news, insider Graeme Pitkethly bought 210 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 1,037 ($13.02) per share, for a total transaction of £2,177.70 ($2,735.12). Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Pearson Company Profile

Pearson plc offers educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. The company operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills, and Higher Education.