Pearson (LON:PSON) Sets New 12-Month High - Should You Buy?

Pearson plc (LON:PSON - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1,285.50 ($16.16) and last traded at GBX 1,280 ($16.09), with a volume of 9457627 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,276 ($16.04).

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Pearson from GBX 1,170 ($14.71) to GBX 1,400 ($17.60) and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 1,146.75 ($14.42).

Pearson Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of £8.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,557.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.31. The company's fifty day moving average is GBX 1,157.76 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 1,060.71. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.56.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Sherry Coutu bought 731 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 1,282 ($16.12) per share, with a total value of £9,371.42 ($11,782.02). Insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Pearson Company Profile

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.