Pearson (NYSE:PSO) Hits New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Shares of Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $17.25 and last traded at $17.24, with a volume of 254861 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $16.86.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PSO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. National Bankshares set a $18.00 target price on Pearson in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Pearson to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Pearson from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th.

Pearson Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.37 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.78. The company has a market capitalization of $11.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.40.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Pearson during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Pearson during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pearson by 86.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,145 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 1,462 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in shares of Pearson during the 3rd quarter worth $47,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pearson by 228.0% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 4,044 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 2,811 shares during the last quarter. 2.14% of the stock is currently 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.