REG - Pearson PLC - Total Voting Rights

The new repurchase programme, which will see the company buy back £175m of shares by the middle of May before repurchasing the remaining £175m "in due course", follows a similar £350m buyback programme completed in August 2025.

"The sole purpose of the programme is to reduce the capital of the company. As such, the company will cancel any ordinary shares purchased," Pearson said.

The announcement comes just a week after Pearson's pre-close trading update for 2025, in which it reported underlying sales rose 4% over the year, accelerating to 8% in the fourth quarter. It also said its financial position remained "robust with a strong balance sheet".

In a brief statement to the market on Wednesday, the firm said it "enters 2026 with momentum and confidence in delivering against market expectations and medium term outlook".

Company-compiled consensus currently points to 4.8% organic revenue growth at constant currency over 2026, with an adjusted operating profit of £658m, up from an estimated £612m in 2025.

Pearson noted that consensus forecasts currently assume £70m in interest charges for 2026, though these are now expected to increase due to the funding of the new share buyback.

BLOCK LISTING RETURN

Information provided on this form must be typed or printed electronically and provided to an ris.

(Note: Italicised terms have the same meaning as given in the Listing Rules.)

Date: 16 January 2026

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.  END  BLREAAFKFAEKEFA

Pearson PLC Sponsored ADR ( PSO ) is currently at $13.08, down $1.31 or 9.1%

• Would be lowest close since Dec. 8, 2025, when it closed at $13.06
• On pace for largest percent decrease since May 2, 2023, when it fell 14.6%
• Snaps a four day winning streak
• Down 6.84% month-to-date
• Down 6.84% year-to-date
• Down 68.29% from its all-time closing high of $41.25 on March 7, 2000
• Down 17.79% from 52 weeks ago (Jan. 15, 2025), when it closed at $15.91
• Down 26.31% from its 52-week closing high of $17.75 on March 4, 2025
• Up 1.71% from its 52-week closing low of $12.86 on Nov. 20, 2025
• Traded as low as $13.01; lowest intraday level since Nov. 26, 2025, when it hit $12.96
• Down 9.59% at today's intraday low; largest intraday percent decrease since May 2, 2023, when it fell as much as 15.28%

All data as of 1:28:38 PM ET

Source: Dow Jones Market Data, FactSet

Ahead of its annual results announcement on 27 February, Pearson said underlying sales were up 4% over the year, with growth picking up to 8% in the fourth quarter from 4% in the third.

The company said it delivered against its 2025 strategic priorities, launching its new AI-powered learning solution integrated into Microsoft 365 called Communication Coach. Ongoing momentum was also experienced in the enterprise side of the business, including a new strategic partnership with IBM and a vocational skilling contract for the construction sector in Saudi Arabia.

Underlying adjusted operating profit rose around 6% to £610m-615m, slightly ahead of the consensus forecast of £606m at the time of the company's last update in October.

However, one notable development was the loss of a key US Student Assessment contract in New Jersey. While the wider Assessments & Qualifications division – the company's largest at just under half of group sales – experienced 8% growth in the fourth quarter, and 4% for the whole year, Pearson said that the contract loss "will be a headwind in H1 2026".

"In 2025 we successfully delivered against our financial and strategic priorities by expanding our partnerships, growing our Enterprise reach, and advancing the use of AI to improve learning and upskilling," said chief executive Omar Abbosh. "We enter 2026 with momentum, are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and remain well positioned to deliver value to our stakeholders."

The stock was down 7.8% at 991.72p by 1018 GMT.

According to Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, the lack of a detailed outlook for 2026 and the lost New Jersey work "saw Pearson punished in early trading".

He said: “In an environment with mounting concern about AI’s ability to disrupt Pearson, its latest statement didn’t offer the reassurance investors were looking for. Pearson needs to do more when it posts its full-year results next month to convince investors AI can be more of an opportunity than a threat and that it can realise an improvement in underperforming parts of the business.”

LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Pearson Plc (PSO, PSON.L), a British education services provider, Wednesday reported underlying Group sales growth of 8 percent in the fourth quarter and 4 percent in fiscal 2025, benefited by improved performance in all business units.

In its trading update, the company said group adjusted operating profit would be 610 million pounds to 615 million pounds for the year, up around 6 percent on an underlying basis.

Further, ahead, the company said good strategic progress underpins its confidence for 2026 and beyond.

Omar Abbosh, Pearson's Chief Executive, said, 'In 2025 we successfully delivered against our financial and strategic priorities by expanding our partnerships, growing our Enterprise reach, and advancing the use of AI to improve learning and upskilling. . We enter 2026 with momentum, are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.'

Beyond 2025, Pearson expects to deliver a mid-single digit underlying sales growth CAGR, and sustained margin improvement that will equate to an average increase of 40 basis points per annum.

The firm also projects strong free cash conversion, in the region of 90 percent to 100 percent, on average, across the period.

The company plans to announce full-year results on February 27.

Copyright(c) 2026 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved

Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Ahead of its annual results announcement on 27 February, Pearson said underlying sales were up 4% over the year, with growth picking up to 8% in the fourth quarter from 4% in the third.

The company said it delivered against its 2025 strategic priorities, launching its new AI-powered learning solution integrated into Microsoft 365 called Communication Coach.

Ongoing momentum was also experienced in the enterprise side of the business, including a new strategic partnership with IBM and a vocational skilling contract for the construction sector in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile underlying adjusted operating profit rose around 6% to £610m-615m, slightly ahead of the consensus forecast of £606m at the time of the company's last update in October.

"In 2025 we successfully delivered against our financial and strategic priorities by expanding our partnerships, growing our Enterprise reach, and advancing the use of AI to improve learning and upskilling," said chief executive Omar Abbosh.

"We enter 2026 with momentum, are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and remain well positioned to deliver value to our stakeholders."