Pearson (NYSE:PSO) Lowered to Hold Rating by Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen downgraded Pearson (PSO) from "buy" to "hold"; other recent moves include Weiss Ratings cutting to "hold", Kepler moving to "hold", and Citigroup initiating coverage with a "buy", leaving an average rating of "Moderate Buy" (1 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, 4 Hold).
• Pearson shares opened at $13.39 and were trading down about 1.4%, with a 50‑day/200‑day moving average of $12.86 and $13.43 respectively and a 52‑week range of $12.02–$16.67.
• Institutional ownership is low at roughly 2.14%, although several small investors recently increased or initiated positions, including a 952% stake rise by CIBC Private Wealth Group.

Pearson (NYSE:PSO - Get Free Report) was downgraded by Wall Street Zen from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Saturday.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Pearson from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Kepler Capital Markets raised shares of Pearson from a "reduce" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Pearson in a report on Monday, January 12th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

Pearson Trading Down 1.4%

Shares of NYSE PSO opened at $13.39 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 2.00 and a quick ratio of 1.94. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $12.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.43. Pearson has a 52-week low of $12.02 and a 52-week high of $16.67.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pearson

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Pearson by 952.1% in 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 shares of Pearson in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Pearson by 54.2% in the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,947 shares of the company's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 1,036 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Pearson in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Pearson by 31.8% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 7,758 shares of the company's stock valued at $110,000 after acquiring an additional 1,874 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.14% of the company's stock.

About Pearson

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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