Optiver Holding B.V. Raises Stock Holdings in Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO)

Optiver Holding B.V. raised its position in shares of Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) by 135.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 495,797 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 285,234 shares during the quarter. Optiver Holding B.V.’s holdings in Pearson were worth $7,992,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Pearson in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in Pearson by 49.5% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 844,228 shares of the company’s stock valued at $13,609,000 after acquiring an additional 279,369 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Pearson by 99.4% in the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 49,541 shares of the company’s stock valued at $799,000 after acquiring an additional 24,699 shares during the last quarter. ABC Arbitrage SA acquired a new stake in shares of Pearson in the fourth quarter worth $4,780,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pearson by 228.0% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 4,044 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 2,811 shares during the last quarter. 2.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised Pearson from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Pearson in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, National Bankshares set a $18.00 price target on Pearson in a report on Tuesday, February 18th.

Pearson Trading Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:PSO opened at $15.68 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.42. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $16.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.72. Pearson plc has a 1 year low of $11.78 and a 1 year high of $17.90.

Pearson Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 21st will be given a $0.2092 dividend. This is a positive change from Pearson’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 21st. This represents a dividend yield of 1.7%. Pearson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.