PearsonPSORF 79 Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 9.90% as of Dec. 2025, which is 41% above its 10-year median of 7.01. GuruFocus rates PSORF with a GF Score™ of 79/100 and a GF Value™ of $13.76 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,030 Media - Diversified companies, Pearson ranks better than 86.41% on this metric.
Return-on-Tangible-Asset is calculated as Net Income divided by its average total tangible assets. Total tangible assets equals to Total Assets minus Intangible Assets. Pearson's annualizedNet Income for the quarter that ended in Dec. 2025 was $458 Mil. Pearson's average total tangible assets for the quarter that ended in Dec. 2025 was $4,626 Mil. Therefore, Pearson's annualized Return-on-Tangible-Asset for the quarter that ended in Dec. 2025 was 9.90%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset or its related term are showing as below:
PSORF'
s Return-on-Tangible-Asset Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -35.69 Med: 7.01 Max: 11.98
Current: 9.37
During the past 13 years, Pearson's highest Return-on-Tangible-Asset was 11.98%. The lowest was -35.69%. And the median was 7.01%.
PSORF's Return-on-Tangible-Asset is ranked better than 86.41% of 1030
companies
in the Media - Diversified industry
Industry Median: 0.755
vs PSORF: 9.37
Return-on-Tangible-Asset measures the rate of return on the average total tangible assets (total assets minus intangible assets). Tangible means physical in nature. Intangible Assets are assets that are not physical in nature, and typically "derive their value from legal or intellectual rights." Return-on-Tangible-Asset measures a firm's efficiency at generating profits from its tangible assets. It shows how well a company uses what it has to generate earnings. Return-on-Tangible-Assets can vary drastically across industries. Therefore, Return-on-Tangible-Asset should not be used to compare companies in different industries.
Be Aware
Like ROE and ROA, Return-on-Tangible-Asset is calculated with only 12 months data. Fluctuations in the companys earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective. Return-on-Tangible-Asset can be affected by events such as stock buyback or issuance, and by a companys tax rate and its interest payment. Return-on-Tangible-Asset may not reflect the true earning power of the assets. A more accurate measurement is ROC % (ROC).
Many analysts argue the higher return the better. Buffett states that really high Return-on-Tangible-Asset may indicate vulnerability in the durability of the competitive advantage.
Pearson Return-on-Tangible-Asset Related Terms
Pearson Return-on-Tangible-Asset Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
PSORF vs NYT, WLY: Return-on-Tangible-Asset Comparison
For the Publishing subindustry, Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset, along with its competitors' market caps and Return-on-Tangible-Asset data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Pearson Return-on-Tangible-Asset vs Media - Diversified Industry
For the Media - Diversified industry and Communication Services sector, Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
In the calculation of annual Return-on-Tangible-Asset, the net income of the last fiscal year and the average total tangible assets over the fiscal year are used. In calculating the quarterly data,
the Net Income data used here is two times the semi-annual (Dec. 2025) net income data.
What does a Return-on-Tangible-Asset of 9.90% mean?
Pearson (PSORF) has a Return-on-Tangible-Asset of 9.90% as of Dec. 2025. Return on tangible assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period tangible assets. View historical data on Pearson and its competitors. This is 41% above median its historical median of 7.01. According to the industry distribution chart, Pearson ranks #140 out of 1030 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, placing it in the top 13.6%.
Is Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset too high?
Pearson's current Return-on-Tangible-Asset of 9.90% is 41% above median its 10-year median of 7.01. The Media - Diversified industry median Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 0.76. Pearson's value of 9.90% is 1211.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Pearson ranks #140 out of 1030 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Pearson has a GF Score™ of 79/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Pearson's Return-on-Tangible-Asset compare to NYT and WLY?
According to the Media - Diversified industry distribution chart, Pearson ranks #140 out of 1030 companies for Return-on-Tangible-Asset. This places Pearson in the top 14% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 0.76. Pearson's value of 9.90% is 1211.3% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 7.01 vs. the industry median of 0.76, Pearson has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Return-on-Tangible-Asset for a Media - Diversified company?
The median Return-on-Tangible-Asset among Media - Diversified companies is 0.76, based on 1,030 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Return-on-Tangible-Asset significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Return-on-Tangible-Asset should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Pearson's current Return-on-Tangible-Asset of 9.90% is 1211.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Return-on-Tangible-Asset mean?
A high Return-on-Tangible-Asset can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on tangible assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period tangible assets. View historical data on Pearson and its competitors. For the Media - Diversified industry, the median Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 0.76 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Pearson's current Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 9.90%, which is 41% above median its own 10-year median of 7.01. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Pearson stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Pearson (PSORF) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $13.76, compared to a current price of $16.00 — trading 16.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 9.90%, which is 41% above median its 10-year median of 7.01 and 1211.3% above the Media - Diversified industry median of 0.76. Pearson's overall GF Score™ is 79/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Return-on-Tangible-Asset calculated?
Return-on-Tangible-Asset is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Pearson (PSORF), the current Return-on-Tangible-Asset is 9.90% as of Dec. 2025. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Pearson (PSORF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Pearson stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $16.00 is trading 16.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $13.76.
GuruFocus considers Pearson to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for PSORF:
Return-on-Tangible-Asset: 9.90% (41% above median its 10-year median of 7.01)
GF Value™: $13.76 vs. price of $16.00 (16.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 1211.3% above the Media - Diversified median (#140 of 1030)
No single metric tells the full story. See the PSORF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
UK-listed Pearson is a testing and educational provider. Pearson's primary operations are in assessment and qualifications, testing and higher education, but they also provide English education and testing, virtual learning, prehiring testing and screening, and upskilling/reskilling. The company divested noncore businesses, including the Financial Times, The Economist, and publishing house Penguin, and is now focused on being an educational resource and testing provider.
79GF Score
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