Pearson PLC

LSE:PSON UK Publishing
Market Cap
$73.31 Million
GBX602.50 Billion GBX
Market Cap Rank
#36650 Global
#510 in UK
Share Price
GBX957.40
Change (1 day)
-0.93%
52-Week Range
GBX891.60 - GBX1229.00
All Time High
GBX1379.00
Categories
Companies in UK Publishing
About

Pearson plc provides 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. The Assessment & Qualifications segment offers Pearson … Read more

Pearson PLC (PSON) - Net Assets

Latest net assets as of December 2025: GBX3.66 Billion GBX

Based on the latest financial reports, Pearson PLC (PSON) has net assets worth GBX3.66 Billion GBX as of December 2025.

Net assets (also known as shareholders' equity or book value) represent the difference between a company's total assets (GBX6.46 Billion) and total liabilities (GBX2.79 Billion). This figure indicates the residual interest in the assets after deducting liabilities, essentially showing what would remain for shareholders if all assets were liquidated and all debts paid off.

Key Net Assets Metrics

Metric Value
Current Net Assets GBX3.66 Billion
% of Total Assets 56.72%
Annual Growth Rate 5.57%
5-Year Change -14.42%
10-Year Change -15.75%
Growth Volatility 100.0

Pearson PLC - Net Assets Trend (1985–2025)

This chart illustrates how Pearson PLC's net assets have evolved over time, based on quarterly financial data. Explore and compare other companies by net assets.

Annual Net Assets for Pearson PLC (1985–2025)

The table below shows the annual net assets of Pearson PLC from 1985 to 2025.

Year Net Assets Change
2025-12-31 GBX3.66 Billion -9.62%
2024-12-31 GBX4.05 Billion +1.63%
2023-12-31 GBX3.99 Billion -9.67%
2022-12-31 GBX4.42 Billion +3.15%
2021-12-31 GBX4.28 Billion +3.53%
2020-12-31 GBX4.13 Billion -4.37%
2019-12-31 GBX4.32 Billion -4.46%
2018-12-31 GBX4.53 Billion +12.53%
2017-12-31 GBX4.02 Billion -7.52%
2016-12-31 GBX4.35 Billion -32.25%
2015-12-31 GBX6.42 Billion +7.23%
2014-12-31 GBX5.99 Billion +4.89%
2013-12-31 GBX5.71 Billion -0.07%
2012-12-31 GBX5.71 Billion -4.23%
2011-12-31 GBX5.96 Billion +6.37%
2010-12-31 GBX5.61 Billion +20.90%
2009-12-31 GBX4.64 Billion -7.72%
2008-12-31 GBX5.02 Billion +29.69%
2007-12-31 GBX3.87 Billion +6.31%
2006-12-31 GBX3.64 Billion -2.38%
2005-12-31 GBX3.73 Billion +23.86%
2004-12-31 GBX3.01 Billion -2.40%
2003-12-31 GBX3.09 Billion -12.52%
2002-12-31 GBX3.53 Billion -6.42%
2001-12-31 GBX3.77 Billion -10.48%
2000-12-31 GBX4.21 Billion +217.56%
1999-12-31 GBX1.33 Billion +22.42%
1998-12-31 GBX1.08 Billion +594.87%
1997-12-31 GBX156.00 Million -60.23%
1996-12-31 GBX392.30 Million -54.14%
1995-12-31 GBX855.40 Million -18.68%
1994-12-31 GBX1.05 Billion +5.18%
1993-12-31 GBX1.00 Billion -5.50%
1992-12-31 GBX1.06 Billion +7.87%
1991-12-31 GBX981.10 Million +37.89%
1990-12-31 GBX711.50 Million +8.53%
1989-12-31 GBX655.60 Million +35.54%
1988-12-31 GBX483.70 Million -19.57%
1987-12-31 GBX601.40 Million +26.58%
1986-12-31 GBX475.10 Million +13.58%
1985-12-31 GBX418.30 Million --

Equity Component Analysis

This analysis shows how different components contribute to Pearson PLC's total equity over time. Equity components include common stock, retained earnings, additional paid-in capital, and other elements.

Equity Composition Insights

  • Retained earnings have grown by 219.8% over the analyzed period, indicating profitable operations and earnings retention.

Current Equity Component Breakdown (December 2025)

Component Amount Percentage
Retained Earnings GBX629.00 Million 17.24%
Common Stock GBX158.00 Million 4.33%
Other Comprehensive Income GBX212.00 Million 5.81%
Other Components GBX2.65 Billion 72.62%
Total Equity GBX3.65 Billion 100.00%

Pearson PLC Competitors by Market Cap

The table below lists competitors of Pearson PLC ranked by their market capitalization.

Company Market Cap
Eastern Silk Industries Limited
NSE:EASTSILK
 		$747.77K
Ilustrato Pictures
PINK:ILUS
 		$748.58K
Monarch Mining Corporation
OTCQX:GBARF
 		$748.95K
Huachen AI Parking Management Technology Holding Co Ltd
NASDAQ:HCAI
 		$749.32K
Obducat AB (publ)
F:OBD
 		$747.24K
M Vision Public Company Limited
BK:MVP
 		$747.17K
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL
MU:PG4
 		$746.48K
Avenue Therapeutics Inc
PINK:ATXI
 		$746.27K

Equity Growth Attribution

This analysis shows how different factors contributed to changes in Pearson PLC's equity between the two most recent reporting periods.

Equity Growth Insights

  • From 2024 to 2025, total equity changed from 4,038,000,000 to 3,648,000,000, a change of -390,000,000 (-9.7%).
  • Net income of 335,000,000 contributed positively to equity growth.
  • Dividend payments of 160,000,000 reduced retained earnings.
  • Share repurchases of 424,000,000 reduced equity.
  • Other comprehensive income decreased equity by 191,000,000.
  • Other factors increased equity by 113,000,000.

Equity Change Factors (2024 to 2025)

Factor Impact Contribution
Net Income GBX335.00 Million +9.18%
Dividends Paid GBX160.00 Million -4.39%
Share Repurchases GBX424.00 Million -11.62%
Other Comprehensive Income GBX-191.00 Million -5.24%
Other Changes GBX113.00 Million +3.1%
Total Change GBX- -9.66%

Book Value vs Market Value Analysis

This analysis compares Pearson PLC's book value (net assets) with its market value over time. The relationship between these values can provide insights into investor sentiment and company valuation.

Valuation Insights

  • Current price-to-book ratio: 173.29x
  • The company is trading at a significant premium to its book value, suggesting the market values its earnings potential, brand, or other intangibles highly.
  • The price-to-book ratio has decreased from 1095.48x to 173.29x over the analyzed period, indicating reduced market premium.

Historical Price-to-Book Ratios

Date Book Value per Share Market Price P/B Ratio
1985-12-31 GBX0.87 GBX957.40 x
1986-12-31 GBX0.97 GBX957.40 x
1987-12-31 GBX1.24 GBX957.40 x
1988-12-31 GBX0.90 GBX957.40 x
1989-12-31 GBX1.13 GBX957.40 x
1990-12-31 GBX1.16 GBX957.40 x
1991-12-31 GBX1.58 GBX957.40 x
1992-12-31 GBX1.70 GBX957.40 x
1993-12-31 GBX1.61 GBX957.40 x
1994-12-31 GBX1.66 GBX957.40 x
1995-12-31 GBX1.32 GBX957.40 x
1996-12-31 GBX0.61 GBX957.40 x
1997-12-31 GBX0.23 GBX957.40 x
1998-12-31 GBX1.54 GBX957.40 x
1999-12-31 GBX1.86 GBX957.40 x
2000-12-31 GBX5.55 GBX957.40 x
2001-12-31 GBX4.52 GBX957.40 x
2002-12-31 GBX4.19 GBX957.40 x
2003-12-31 GBX3.62 GBX957.40 x
2004-12-31 GBX3.51 GBX957.40 x
2005-12-31 GBX4.45 GBX957.40 x
2006-12-31 GBX4.35 GBX957.40 x
2007-12-31 GBX4.63 GBX957.40 x
2008-12-31 GBX5.96 GBX957.40 x
2009-12-31 GBX5.43 GBX957.40 x
2010-12-31 GBX6.90 GBX957.40 x
2011-12-31 GBX7.41 GBX957.40 x
2012-12-31 GBX7.06 GBX957.40 x
2013-12-31 GBX7.05 GBX957.40 x
2014-12-31 GBX7.36 GBX957.40 x
2015-12-31 GBX7.88 GBX957.40 x
2016-12-31 GBX5.33 GBX957.40 x
2017-12-31 GBX4.93 GBX957.40 x
2018-12-31 GBX5.80 GBX957.40 x
2019-12-31 GBX5.55 GBX957.40 x
2020-12-31 GBX5.46 GBX957.40 x
2021-12-31 GBX5.63 GBX957.40 x
2022-12-31 GBX5.93 GBX957.40 x
2023-12-31 GBX5.54 GBX957.40 x
2024-12-31 GBX5.90 GBX957.40 x
2025-12-31 GBX5.52 GBX957.40 x

Capital Efficiency Dashboard

This dashboard shows how efficiently Pearson PLC utilizes its equity to generate returns, including Return on Equity (ROE) and its components based on the DuPont analysis framework.

Capital Efficiency Insights

  • Current Return on Equity (ROE): 9.18%
  • The company has moderate efficiency in generating returns from equity.
  • DuPont Analysis Breakdown:
  • • Net Profit Margin: 9.37%
  • • Asset Turnover: 0.55x
  • • Equity Multiplier: 1.77x
  • Recent ROE (9.18%) is below the historical average (13.68%), suggesting potential challenges in capital efficiency.

Historical Capital Efficiency Metrics

Year Return on Equity Net Profit Margin Asset Turnover Equity Multiplier Economic Value Added
1985 17.78% 7.12% 1.14x 2.19x GBX30.23 Million
1986 14.50% 6.76% 1.01x 2.13x GBX19.99 Million
1987 40.30% 25.13% 0.89x 1.81x GBX179.92 Million
1988 37.46% 14.71% 0.91x 2.80x GBX128.80 Million
1989 42.58% 18.92% 0.94x 2.39x GBX211.33 Million
1990 12.50% 5.75% 0.88x 2.48x GBX17.62 Million
1991 13.75% 8.38% 0.83x 1.98x GBX36.56 Million
1992 10.01% 6.44% 0.76x 2.04x GBX100.00K
1993 14.84% 7.91% 0.97x 1.93x GBX48.27 Million
1994 21.51% 14.38% 0.65x 2.32x GBX119.29 Million
1995 31.33% 14.26% 0.71x 3.08x GBX177.68 Million
1996 61.89% 11.00% 0.97x 5.78x GBX201.64 Million
1997 25.11% 1.67% 1.02x 14.77x GBX23.05 Million
1998 41.70% 18.25% 0.45x 5.07x GBX332.20 Million
1999 22.26% 8.82% 0.62x 4.05x GBX161.90 Million
2000 4.43% 4.63% 0.44x 2.18x GBX-225.43 Million
2001 -10.89% -9.25% 0.53x 2.24x GBX-751.20 Million
2002 -3.33% -2.57% 0.63x 2.05x GBX-444.80 Million
2003 1.90% 1.36% 0.64x 2.19x GBX-234.30 Million
2004 9.36% 7.09% 0.56x 2.35x GBX-18.00 Million
2005 17.51% 16.39% 0.50x 2.13x GBX267.60 Million
2006 12.83% 11.18% 0.55x 2.08x GBX98.40 Million
2007 7.69% 6.82% 0.57x 1.97x GBX-85.50 Million
2008 6.15% 6.07% 0.49x 2.08x GBX-183.00 Million
2009 9.78% 8.27% 0.55x 2.17x GBX-9.50 Million
2010 23.42% 22.90% 0.53x 1.93x GBX743.20 Million
2011 16.10% 16.33% 0.52x 1.89x GBX362.70 Million
2012 5.73% 6.44% 0.45x 2.00x GBX-242.60 Million
2013 9.44% 10.61% 0.46x 1.92x GBX-32.00 Million
2014 7.88% 9.66% 0.43x 1.91x GBX-126.90 Million
2015 12.83% 18.42% 0.38x 1.81x GBX181.60 Million
2016 -53.80% -51.34% 0.45x 2.32x GBX-2.77 Billion
2017 10.12% 9.00% 0.57x 1.97x GBX4.70 Million
2018 13.02% 14.24% 0.52x 1.75x GBX136.40 Million
2019 6.12% 6.82% 0.51x 1.77x GBX-167.30 Million
2020 8.00% 9.71% 0.46x 1.81x GBX-82.50 Million
2021 4.15% 5.16% 0.47x 1.72x GBX-250.00 Million
2022 5.50% 6.30% 0.53x 1.66x GBX-198.20 Million
2023 9.51% 10.29% 0.55x 1.69x GBX-19.40 Million
2024 10.75% 12.22% 0.52x 1.71x GBX30.20 Million
2025 9.18% 9.37% 0.55x 1.77x GBX-29.80 Million

Industry Comparison

This section compares Pearson PLC's net assets metrics with peer companies in the Publishing industry.

Industry Context

  • Industry: Publishing
  • Average net assets among peers: $189,015,250
  • Average return on equity (ROE) among peers: 5.26%

Peer Company Comparison

Company Net Assets Return on Equity Debt-to-Equity Market Cap
Pearson PLC (PSON) GBX3.66 Billion 17.78% 0.76x $747.63K
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (BMY) $114.81 Million 6.50% 0.34x $58.26K
LBG Media PLC (LBG) $65.15 Million 2.56% 0.40x $22.39K
Reach PLC (RCH) $579.40 Million 12.00% 1.44x $21.46K
Smiths News PLC (SNWS) $-3.30 Million 0.00% 0.00x $19.44K