Optiver Holding B.V. Raises Stake in Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO)

Optiver Holding B.V. increased its stake in Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO - Free Report) by 135.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 495,797 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 285,234 shares during the period. Optiver Holding B.V. owned 0.07% of Pearson worth $7,992,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PSO. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Pearson during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of Pearson by 49.5% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 844,228 shares of the company's stock worth $13,609,000 after buying an additional 279,369 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Pearson by 99.4% during the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 49,541 shares of the company's stock worth $799,000 after buying an additional 24,699 shares in the last quarter. ABC Arbitrage SA purchased a new position in shares of Pearson during the fourth quarter valued at $4,780,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Pearson by 228.0% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 4,044 shares of the company's stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 2,811 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 2.14% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on PSO. StockNews.com raised shares of Pearson from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Pearson in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, National Bankshares set a $18.00 target price on Pearson in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th.

Pearson Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of PSO stock opened at $15.68 on Monday. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $16.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.72. Pearson plc has a 1-year low of $11.78 and a 1-year high of $17.90. The company has a market cap of $10.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.42.

Pearson Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 21st will be given a $0.2092 dividend. This is a positive change from Pearson's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.10. This represents a dividend yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 21st. Pearson's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.62%.

Pearson 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.

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