Pearson (NYSE:PSO) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

Pearson, PLC (NYSE:PSO) shares gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $14.39, but opened at $13.40. Pearson shares last traded at $13.2950, with a volume of 365,017 shares.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup started coverage on Pearson in a research report on Monday. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Pearson from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, September 20th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Pearson from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Pearson in a research report on Monday, October 20th. They issued an “equal weight” rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $18.00.

Pearson Stock Down 3.5%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 2.31 and a quick ratio of 2.24. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $13.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.10.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pearson

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Millennium Management LLC acquired a new stake in Pearson in the 1st quarter worth about $11,546,000. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new position in shares of Pearson during the 3rd quarter worth about $10,104,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Pearson by 1,072.4% during the 2nd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 605,707 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,043,000 after acquiring an additional 554,044 shares during the period. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of Pearson by 109.6% in the second quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 445,228 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,647,000 after acquiring an additional 232,788 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Pearson by 672.2% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 261,605 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,906,000 after purchasing an additional 227,725 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.14% of the company’s stock.

About Pearson

Pearson plc is a global education company headquartered in London, England, with significant operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Tracing its roots back to 1844, Pearson evolved from its early beginnings into one of the world’s leading providers of educational content, digital learning tools, and assessment services. The company’s American subsidiary trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PSO.

Pearson’s core business encompasses a broad portfolio of products and services for learners, educators, and institutions.