London, February 15, 2026, 15:58 GMT — The market has closed.
- Pearson ended the session at 920p Friday, tacking on a 1.75% gain.
- Shares have slid 31.6% in the past year, dropping another 12.4% since the start of this year.
- Pearson’s full-year numbers drop Feb 27—the next key catalyst for the stock.
Pearson PLC finished Friday at 920 pence, gaining 1.75% for the session as the education stock wrapped up the week on a stronger note. Still, shares have slumped 31.6% over the last year and remain 12.4% lower since the start of the year. The 14-day RSI sat at 42.9, a reading some traders watch for signals on whether a stock’s overbought or oversold.
Pearson’s next big moment comes Friday, Feb. 27, with its 2025 full-year numbers. The company also plans to lay out its 2026 outlook during a presentation and Q&A. For a stock searching for support, guidance matters most in the short run. 1
Pearson has launched a £350 million share buyback, targeting a reduction in capital. The initial phase—up to £175 million—is set to last until May 21 at the latest. According to the company, Citigroup Global Markets will handle the trades, operating independently from Pearson under a non-discretionary instruction. Pearson added that it expects its FY26 interest charge to climb, since the buyback will require additional funding. 2
Pearson reported a 4% increase in underlying sales for 2025 in its January trading update, with growth picking up to 8% in the fourth quarter. The company is forecasting adjusted operating profit between £610 million and £615 million. Chief executive Omar Abbosh commented, “We enter 2026 with momentum.” Still, Pearson noted it has lost its New Jersey contract and flagged a headwind for the first half of 2026. 3
The same questions are still on the table heading into the new week: how fast can the assessment business make up for the lost work, what’s the margin picture as contracts cycle through, and can the company sustain cash generation while repurchasing shares. Pearson, for its part, is leaning on partnerships and fresh product launches to push past its traditional publishing core.
Buybacks offer support, though they bring their own set of optics. Investors usually welcome a falling share count. But if trading slows or sentiment sours, steeper interest costs could start to sting.
The risk here isn’t hard to grasp. If the Feb 27 outlook disappoints, or if it turns out the assessment pipeline isn’t as robust as investors are hoping, that could pile fresh pressure on a stock that’s already taken a beating over the past year.
Monday brings a focus on any new company news around the buyback, plus a read on risk appetite in UK stocks. Pearson shares have sometimes tracked the broader market, even when the initial driver comes from inside the company.
