Invesco Ltd. Cuts Holdings in Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO)

Invesco Ltd. cut its stake in shares of Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO - Free Report) by 25.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 758,321 shares of the company's stock after selling 261,685 shares during the quarter. Invesco Ltd. owned approximately 0.11% of Pearson worth $12,224,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in shares of Pearson in the 3rd quarter valued at $47,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Pearson by 244.3% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 15,278 shares of the company's stock worth $207,000 after acquiring an additional 10,841 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Pearson in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Pearson by 78.5% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 8,869 shares of the company's stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 3,901 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its stake in Pearson by 13.7% during the fourth quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 33,042 shares of the company's stock worth $533,000 after purchasing an additional 3,990 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.14% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on PSO. National Bankshares set a $18.00 price objective on shares of Pearson in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. StockNews.com raised Pearson from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Pearson in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company.

Pearson Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE PSO opened at $15.63 on Tuesday. Pearson plc has a one year low of $11.78 and a one year high of $17.90. The firm has a market cap of $10.42 billion, a PE ratio of 16.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.42. The firm's fifty day moving average is $16.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.78.

Pearson Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.2092 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 21st. This is an increase from Pearson's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.10. This represents a yield of 1.7%. Pearson's dividend payout ratio is currently 43.62%.

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.

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