EarningsQ2 2026 Earnings Report
MX:PSONN Q2 2026 EPS Results
Actual EPS$6.61
Consensus EPS$6.13
Beat/MissBeat by +$0.48
One Year Ago EPS$5.54
MX:PSONN Q2 2026 Revenue Results
Actual Revenue$40.69B
Expected Revenue$40.26B
Beat/MissBeat by +$433.39M
YoY Revenue Growth+3.31%
Earnings Announcement Details
QuarterQ2 2026
Date07/31/2026
TimeBefore Open
Conference CallFriday, July 31, 2026
MX:PSONN Upcoming Earnings
Pearson's next earnings date is estimated for February 26, 2027, based on past reporting schedules.
Q2 2026 Earnings Call Audio
No earnings call audio is available for this earnings event.
Q2 2026 Earnings Slide Deck
No slide deck is available for this earnings event.
Q2 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call emphasizes solid H1 financial results (revenue +4%, adjusted operating profit +14%, EPS +18–19%), strong free cash flow and continued confidence in full-year guidance. Several strategic positives were highlighted: robust Virtual Learning momentum (+19% revenue), Inclusive Access acceleration (23% in Q2), enterprise skilling and rapid AI lab certification rollout, operational synergies (AI customer service at ~40% interactions, incentive consolidation) and product innovation with strong early learning outcomes. Key challenges include technical issues on the new UK primary testing platform, pockets of weakness in English Language Learning (ELL) driven by weaker international mobility and migration policy, margin pressure in Assessments & Qualifications from sales mix and one-off SATs delivery costs, and the revenue impact from the loss of the New Jersey contract. Overall, the positive financial performance, cash generation, and strategic momentum outweigh the operational and market headwinds noted, supporting a constructive outlook.Company Guidance
Group Financial Performance
Underlying group revenue up 4% in H1; adjusted operating profit up 14% underlying to £226m; margin expanded 140 basis points to 15.5%. Adjusted EPS increased 19% at constant exchange rates (18% headline) to 28.9p. Free cash flow rose by £103m to £259m. Company executed an accelerated £350m share buyback and proposed a 5% interim dividend increase to 8.2p.
On Track for Full-Year Guidance
Management reiterated full-year framework: mid-single-digit underlying revenue growth, group adjusted operating profit target of £640m–£685m (at prior-year FX) and expected free cash conversion of 90%–100%.
Virtual Learning Momentum
Virtual Learning revenue grew 19% in H1 with enrollment growth accelerating to 15% in the spring semester. Margin increased to 18%. The unit secured all 10 long-term contract renewals this year and is on track to open 5 new schools for the upcoming academic year.
Inclusive Access and Higher Education Improvements
Inclusive access growth accelerated to 23% in Q2 and now represents 50% of the U.S. core courseware business. Higher Education revenue grew 2% in H1 with margin expansion to 6% driven by operational leverage, cost efficiencies and lower amortization after last year’s impairment.
Enterprise Learning & Skills and Vocational Strength
Enterprise Learning & Skills revenue grew 7% with margin increasing to 28%. Enterprise Solutions delivered strong double-digit growth and Pearson Professional Assessments grew well. Vocational qualifications performed strongly with contract extension in Jordan and a new vocational skilling program launched in Saudi Arabia.
Assessments & Qualifications and AI Partnerships
Assessment & Qualifications returned to growth in Q2 with H1 revenue +2%. Launched a Google Cloud certification program in H1 and secured a new contract with a leading AI lab — rapid global rollout completed in months with the first tens of thousands of test takers, highlighting scale and speed of delivery.
Operational Efficiency and Technology Progress
Progress on execution synergies: AI self-service handling ~40% of customer interactions in initial rollout (voice, chat, e-mail). Sales incentive consolidation from 130+ plans to ~30 role-based plans. Content tooling and taxonomy standardization underway and strategic partnership with Adobe to rebuild/upgraded digital estate (simplifying ~4,500 web domains).
Product Innovation and Learning Outcomes
Launched new products including ambient assessment (Communication Coach) and expanded AI-enabled clinical functionality. Internal research cited that students using Pearson AI adaptive products were ~90% more likely to reach initial mastery versus legacy education tools.
MX:PSONN Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed