Pearson (NYSE:PSO) Hits New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $16.99 and last traded at $16.93, with a volume of 19547 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $16.79.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PSO. StockNews.com cut Pearson from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Pearson to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th.

Pearson Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $16.03 and a 200-day moving average of $14.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.72.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Pearson by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 154,460 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,490,000 after purchasing an additional 1,122 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Pearson by 86.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,145 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 1,462 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Pearson in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Truist Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Pearson by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 11,842 shares of the company’s stock valued at $191,000 after purchasing an additional 1,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Pearson during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. 2.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Pearson

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.