Pearson (NYSE:PSO) Rating Increased to Strong-Buy at StockNews.com

Pearson (NYSE:PSO) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on PSO. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Pearson from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Pearson from GBX 880 ($11.11) to GBX 900 ($11.37) in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Pearson from GBX 1,000 ($12.63) to GBX 1,030 ($13.01) in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. UBS Group upgraded shares of Pearson from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Pearson from GBX 1,230 ($15.53) to GBX 1,190 ($15.03) in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,056.67.

Pearson Stock Performance

Shares of PSO opened at $10.96 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $10.69 and its 200 day moving average is $10.46. Pearson has a fifty-two week low of $9.05 and a fifty-two week high of $12.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a current ratio of 2.16.

Institutional Trading of Pearson

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in PSO. Principal Street Partners LLC lifted its stake in Pearson by 25.2% in the second quarter. Principal Street Partners LLC now owns 14,715 shares of the company’s stock worth $154,000 after acquiring an additional 2,958 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Pearson in the second quarter worth about $270,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Pearson by 79.8% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 13,193 shares of the company’s stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 5,855 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Pearson in the second quarter worth about $171,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Pearson in the second quarter worth about $560,000. 2.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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, Higher Education, and Workforce Skills.