Pearson lifts FY guidance on strong assessment unit results

Education group Pearson raised annual profits guidance on Wednesday, driven by its assessment and qualification business.

The company said it now expected full-year adjusted operating profit of £385m, with sales up 8%, against analysts forecasts of £375m.

Sales in assessment & qualifications, Pearson’s largest business, were up 18% as professional certification (VUE), clinical assessment and US student assessment performed strongly, following a recovery from the Covid pandemic.

Higher education sales were down 5% for the full year with growth in Canadian and UK Courseware more than offset by a 6% decline in US higher education courseware.