# Pearson plc (PSO)

> Source: Nexqual · https://nexqual.com/PSO · data as of 2026-10-22 20:00 UTC · cite as "Nexqual, Pearson plc (PSO), nexqual.com/PSO" · informational, not investment advice.

**Price:** USD 18.39 (+1.32% on the day) · last close of Oct 22, 2026; US market pre market, not a live price. Prev close 18.15 · day 17.85–18.4 · 52w 12.02–18.4 · market cap $11.1B · NYQ

## Key facts
- Analysts: Sell (mean 4.00 on a 1–5 scale) (2 analysts), mean target USD 16.15 (range 14–18.3).
- Total return with dividends: 1Y +26.9% vs S&P 500 +14.9%; 5Y +139.3% vs S&P 500 +80.3%.
- Next earnings: 2026-07-31, EPS estimate USD —, revenue estimate $0K.

## Analysts
Consensus Sell (mean 4.00 on a 1–5 scale), 2 analysts; mean target USD 16.15 (low 14, high 18.3).
Rating changes, last 120 days:
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Price target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-08 | UBS | Downgrade | Buy → Neutral |  |
| 2026-09-02 | Citigroup | Downgrade | Buy → Neutral |  |
| 2026-07-14 | JP Morgan | Downgrade | Overweight → Neutral |  |

## Total return (dividends reinvested)
|  | 1Y (from 2025-10-23) | 5Y (from 2021-10-18) |
|---|---|---|
| Total return | +26.9% | +139.3% |
| S&P 500 (SPY) | +14.9% | +80.3% |
| Per year | +27.1% | +19.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.3% | 26.9% |
| Max drawdown | -19.3% (Oct 2025→Feb 2026) | -27.6% (Feb 2025→Feb 2026) |

## Peers (Publishing)
NYT (New York Times Company (The)) USD 69.42 +0.81% · WLYB (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) USD 54.08 +0.63% · TDAY (USA TODAY Co., Inc.) USD 7.04 +1.73% · SCHL (Scholastic Corporation) USD 39.01 +0.88%

## More
Full page: https://nexqual.com/PSO · Free keyless MCP server with the same data and citations: https://mcp.nexqual.com/mcp · Guide for agents: https://nexqual.com/agents · https://nexqual.com/llms.txt

## Supply chain and relationships (SEC annual reports)

Named in PSO's own 20-F filed 2026-03-13 (https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/938323/000119312526104945/d33885d20f.htm):

| Relationship | Company | Sentence in the filing |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | Microsoft (MSFT) | "In 2025, in collaboration with our Enterprise Learning & Skills business unit and co-developed with Microsoft, we launched Communication Coach, which is designed to improve the communication ability of both native Englis…" |
| Partner | Amazon (AMZN) | "We secured strategic partnerships with hyperscaler partners (Microsoft, AWS and Google Cloud) and leading professional services enterprises (including HCLTech, Cognizant and IBM)." |
| Partner | Alphabet (Google) (GOOGL) | "We secured strategic partnerships with hyperscaler partners (Microsoft, AWS and Google Cloud) and leading professional services enterprises (including HCLTech, Cognizant and IBM)." |
| Partner | IBM (IBM) | "We secured strategic partnerships with hyperscaler partners (Microsoft, AWS and Google Cloud) and leading professional services enterprises (including HCLTech, Cognizant and IBM)." |
| Partner | Meta Platforms (META) | "Operating AI responsibly Trust, safety and integrity are central to our AI deployments, supported by robust governance aligned with global standards Breadth of strategic and innovation partnerships Hyperscalers Professio…" |
| Partner | Salesforce (CRM) | "Operating AI responsibly Trust, safety and integrity are central to our AI deployments, supported by robust governance aligned with global standards Breadth of strategic and innovation partnerships Hyperscalers Professio…" |
| Partner | Personnel Decisions Research Institutes | "Despite headwinds in PDRI driven by US federal government hiring and spend reductions, the business grew, securing new contracts and expanding enterprise partnerships." |
| Partner | Adobe (ADBE) | "Through portfolio and Certiport assessment capabilities — to expand into adjacent markets such as Certiport, we also forged meaningful enterprise partnerships, engaging students workforce training within higher education…" |

Other companies that name PSO in their own reports (relationship from PSO's side):

| Relationship | Company | Their filing | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| partner | Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (LOPE) | 10-K 2026-02-18 | "The largest companies in this sector have historically been Pearson Online Learning Services, Academic Partnerships and 2U, Inc." |

## Analyst estimates and revisions

| Period | EPS est. | 90d ago | Change | Revenue est. | Analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current quarter | — | — | — | $0 | — |
| Next quarter | — | — | — | $0 | — |
| Current fiscal year (ends 2026-12-31) | $0.88 | $0.96 | -8.5% | $3.72B | 2 |
| Next fiscal year (ends 2027-12-31) | $0.97 | $1.07 | -9.2% | $3.91B | 2 |

## Options: expected move (Cboe, 15-min delayed)

| Expiration | Days | ATM IV | Expected move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-12-18 | 56 | 45.6% | ±16.6% |