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PSOPearson, PlcSell4.8·$17.13
SellHigh Confidence
Investment thesis

Pearson plc converts free cash flow at 258% of net income and holds a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, reflecting high underlying cash generation quality, but the stock has exceeded analyst targets by nearly 21%, momentum is soft with only 4.1 momentum score, and revenue growth is flat at best.

Thesis pillars

  • Exceptional Fcf Conversion Piotroski→Stable
  • Target Exceeded Negative Asymmetry↑Improving
  • Weak Momentum Volume Distribution↓Deteriorating
  • +1 more pillar — see the Why tab for full reasoning

Pillars as of Jul 3, 2026· older than 90 days

Full reasoning →

Open full analysis

Pearson, Plc (PSO) Stock Analysis

Range Bound setup

SellShortHigh Confidence

Communication Services · Publishing

Sell if holding. Analyst target reached at $17.13 — A.R:R is negative (-4.0) — price has exceeded the analyst target. Reward from here is too thin for a buy — the engine flags exit. Additional concerns: Sector modifier (Communication Services): -0.8.

Pearson plc provides educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English... Read more

$17.13-19.9% A.UpsideScore 4.8/10#5 of 6 Publishing
QualityF-score8 / 9FCF yield8.14%
IncomeYield2.02%(5y avg 2.32%)Payout51.09%sustainable
Stop $16.43Analyst target $13.73(reached)A.R:R -4.0:1
Analyst consensus$16.15-5.7%2 analysts with price targets
$17.13price
$16.15mean
$14
$18

Sell if holding. Analyst target reached at $17.13 — A.R:R is negative (-4.0) — price has exceeded the analyst target. Reward from here is too thin for a buy — the engine flags exit. Additional concerns: Sector modifier (Communication Services): -0.8. Chart setup: RSI 47 mid-range, Bollinger mid-band. Score 4.8/10, high confidence.

Passes 5/7 gates (clean insider activity, no SEC red flags, earnings proximity 113d clear, semi cycle peak clear, materials cycle peak clear). Fails on weak momentum and favorable risk/reward ratio. Suitability: moderate.

news + 30-day 8-K events · 5-min refresh

Recent developments

updated Nov 4, 2026

Recent Developments — Pearson, Plc

Latest item Nov 4, 2026 · Generated 2026-11-04T12:04:36Z.

TrendMatrix Research · upcoming catalyst calendar

Upcoming dated catalysts

Thu, Feb 25, 2027113d to earnings· next earnings call

Thesis

Rewards
No bull case signals
Risks
Analyst target reached - limited upside remaining
Sector modifier (Communication Services): -0.8
Earnings estimates trending DOWN

Key Metrics

P/E (TTM)26.0
P/E (Fwd)17.6
Mkt Cap$10.3B
EV/EBITDA19.9
Profit Mgn8.8%
ROE9.2%
Rev Growth3.3%
Beta-0.05
Dividend2.02%
Analysts with ratings17

Quality Signals

Piotroski F8/9MoatNarrow

Options Flow

P/C0.71neutral
IV63%elevated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results. How we score · Editorial policy

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About TrendMatrix. TrendMatrix is a publisher of general securities research and market commentary. We publish on a regular schedule. All content is the same for every subscriber in a tier — we do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not take into account any individual subscriber's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax situation, or holdings.

Not investment advice. TrendMatrix is not a registered investment adviser. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult your own licensed investment adviser, broker, or tax professional before making any investment decision.

Conflicts and positions. People who build TrendMatrix, or entities they control, may hold positions, long or short, in securities it covers, and may trade them at any time. Positions are not disclosed individually. Verdicts are generated by an automated model applied by the same rules to every covered stock, and are not adjusted for any position held by the people who build TrendMatrix. We do not accept payment from issuers for coverage.

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Performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures reflect the published model only and do not reflect any individual subscriber's actual results.

Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

Rating Breakdown

3 floor-breakers

Growth below the gate floor. Component breakdown shows what dragged the score down.static

Earnings Growth
1.4
Revenue Growth
3.3

No near-term catalyst priced in. Thesis progression will come from fundamentals grinding, not event reaction.static

Earnings History
0.0
Surprise Avg
0.0
Erm
2.0
Earnings Timing
5.0
Dividend Safety
5.8
News Activity
6.0

Momentum below the gate floor. Component breakdown shows what dragged the score down.static

Obv
1.0
Macd
1.2
Volume
2.9
Rsi
5.5
Ma Position
6.0
Volume distribution (falling OBV)Above 200-day MA
GatesMomentum 3.3<4.5A.R:R -4.0=NEGATIVEInsider activity: OKNo SEC red flagsEARNINGS PROXIMITY 113d clearSEMI CYCLE PEAK CLEARMATERIALS CYCLE PEAK CLEARRange BoundSuitability: Moderate
RSI
47 · Neutral
↓ 20D MA↑ 50D MA↑ 200D MAGOLDEN CROSSSupport $16.29Resistance $18.43

Price Targets

A.Upside-19.9%
A.R:R-4.0:1

Position Sizing

ConvictionNone
Suggested %0%
Max %0%
RegimeRisk-Off

Risk Alerts

! Target reached (-19.9% upside)
! momentum at 3.3 (below the engine's 4.5 threshold)
! Negative risk/reward — downside exceeds upside

Earnings

M
M
M
M
0/4 beats
Next Earnings2027-02-25 (113d)

Verdict History

reverse chrono — latest first
Loading history...
Verdicts are recorded on every nightly pipeline run. Rows capture transitions (verdict flips, score deltas ≥0.3, entry/TP/SL changes). Rows with a ▶ can be expanded to see the change reason. Aggregate cohort performance is tracked in the recommendation ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PSO stock a buy right now?

Sell if holding. Analyst target reached at $17.13 — A.R:R is negative (-4.0) — price has exceeded the analyst target. Reward from here is too thin for a buy — the engine flags exit. Additional concerns: Sector modifier (Communication Services): -0.8. Chart setup: RSI 47 mid-range, Bollinger mid-band. Prior stop was $16.43. Score 4.8/10, high confidence.

What is the PSO stock price target?

Analyst target $13.73 reached (−19.9% from $17.13); no take-profit level is published. Prior stop was $16.43. Stop-loss: $16.43.

What are the risks of investing in PSO?

Analyst target reached - limited upside remaining; Sector modifier (Communication Services): -0.8; Earnings estimates trending DOWN.

Is PSO overvalued or undervalued?

Pearson, Plc trades at a P/E of 26.0 (forward 17.6). TrendMatrix value score: 5.3/10. Verdict: Sell.

What do analysts say about PSO?

17 analysts rate PSO, with a consensus score of 2.5/5. 2 analysts publish price targets averaging $16.

What does Pearson, Plc do?Pearson plc provides educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States,...

Pearson plc provides educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Enterprise Learning & Skills, and Higher Education. The Assessment & Qualifications segment offers pearson professional assessments, US student assessment, clinical assessment, UK GCSE, and A levels and international academic qualifications and associated courseware, including the English-speaking Canadian and Australian K-12 businesses, and PDR. The Virtual Learning segment provides virtual schools and online program management. The English Language Learning segment offers Pearson test of English, institutional courseware, and English online solutions. The Enterprise Learning & Skills segment provides vocational qualifications, GED, TalentLens, Faethm, Credly, Pearson College, and Enterprise content and training. The Higher Education segment engages in the US, Canadian, and international higher education courseware businesses. Pearson plc was founded in 1844 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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