Pearson Share Discussion Threads

[james dean] 28/2/2011 17:57

Interesting stuff.

As long termers little need to comment. The company has been doing fine over recent years.

Regards.

DYOR

[james dean] 28/2/2011 08:09

Regards.

DYOR

[muffinhead] 21/2/2011 17:55

Interesting

Libyan Investment Authority owns 3.01%

[deanforester] 19/1/2011 09:03

Good Trading Statement this morning

[james dean] 16/12/2010 18:33

...as well as the price today.

Regards.

DYOR

[nellie1973] 15/12/2010 09:43

Broker upgrade today

[james dean] 22/11/2010 07:58

Regards.

DYOR

[earlyretiree] 26/10/2010 16:37

For a write-up on Perason's dividend history and prospects, see:

[phillis] 26/10/2010 10:45

hold from Questor

[phillis] 25/10/2010 15:46

not sure why this is dropping back after the IMS

[nellie1973] 27/7/2010 15:46

Tipped in Telegraph and The Times

[gateside] 27/7/2010 07:47

Pearson

Our view: Buy

Share price: 1029p (+56p)

Pearson once owned vineyards, banks and an oil business. The public is most likely to recognise it today for brands including the Financial Times and Penguin Books. Yet its management is shaping the group into "the world's leading learning company", an area that is proving extremely lucrative, and in which 2010 is shaping up nicely.

This was evidenced by the first-half results that Pearson released yesterday, which beat analysts' expectations. Profits hit £203m, up from £111m in the first half of last year, driven by its North American education arm, where revenue was up 10 per cent.

Pearson has been reshaping the portfolio and sold its majority stake in the financial data group IDC. It has already invested half of the proceeds in bulking up the educational operation, with the acquisition of the vocational training group Melorio and a Brazilian education company, SEB.

But it is not just about education. Other divisions also looked strong yesterday. Penguin's operating profits doubled from £21m to £44m following a solid line-up of releases, as did the FT Group, which saw profits rise from £14m to £30m as it boosted digital subscriptions and corporate licences.

Dame Marjorie Scardino, Pearson's chief executive, said that across all divisions "this is as good a start to our year as I've seen". The results prompted the company to raise the profits outlook for the year, lifting earnings estimates 7 per cent to 70p per share.

The good news for shareholders is that Pearson tends to generate the majority of its profits in the second half, even though yesterday it was striking a cautionary note, given the uncertainty in the market.

While Pearson will face tougher comparatives, the management believe they are in a good position to grow in the medium term, given the growth prospects in core markets. Pearson, on a forecast multiple of 14 times full-year earnings, trades in line with its peers. It deserves to be on a premium, so buy.

[deanforester] 26/7/2010 10:06

The market seems to approve of the results today.

Back to sleep for now.

[56richard] 01/3/2010 20:06

I just love the quietness on this board - it gives me a strange reassurance!
(how long can this rise go on?)

[james dean] 01/3/2010 08:58

Growth Story in the reults.



Regards.

DYOR

[james dean] 26/2/2010 09:04

It might grow more once the IDC sale has been concluded. AIMHO.

Regards.

DYOR

[bankroll] 26/2/2010 08:55

Well, at last PSON has clawed its way back to 2007 pre-recession highs.

A solid company with solid results year on year.

Where next, that is the $64,000 question?