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ARMK vs. PSO: Aramark vs. Pearson Stock Comparison

How do Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO) both fall under the Consumer Services industry group, but ARMK is classified in Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure while PSO is classified in Diversified Consumer Services.

Aramark (ARMK) trades as ordinary local shares, while Pearson (PSO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
Profile ItemARMKPSO
NameAramarkPearson plc Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureDiversified Consumer Services
GICS Sub-IndustryRestaurantsEducation Services
Market Capitalization13.85 billion USD10.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 2013November 18, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ARMK
PSO
GSPC
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
Total Return (1Y)45.95%34.42%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.55%15.38%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.73%17.99%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ARMK
PSO
GSPC
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.91%25.07%
Beta (5Y)1.080.43
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.63%-30.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.66M698.84K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ARMK and PSO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.491.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.441.67

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 11.69% and Pearson (PSO) at 9.16% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

11.69%

Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
ARMK
11.69%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

9.16%

Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
PSO
9.16%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 1.93% and Pearson (PSO) at 8.78% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

1.93%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
Median
6.63%
ARMK
1.93%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

8.78%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
PSO
8.78%
Median
6.63%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pearson (PSO) at 13.32% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Aramark (ARMK) at 4.42% operates in the bottom quartile.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

4.42%

Max
49.05%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
ARMK
4.42%
Min
-16.47%

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

13.32%

Max
49.05%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
PSO
13.32%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-16.47%
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
ROE (TTM)11.69%9.16%
ROA (TTM)4.24%5.09%
Net Margin (TTM)1.93%8.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.42%13.32%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.29%52.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Aramark (ARMK) at 6.35% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Pearson (PSO) at 0.70% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 23.23% and Pearson (PSO) at -20.16% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.35%0.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.58%-2.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.23%-20.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)17.09%15.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Aramark (ARMK) at 1.29 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Pearson (PSO) at 2.00 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

1.29

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
ARMK
1.29
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

2.00

Max
3.41
PSO
2.00
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 1.87 and Pearson (PSO) at 0.52 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

1.87

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
ARMK
1.87
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

0.52

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
PSO
0.52
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.292.00
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.870.52
Net Debt / EBITDA4.122.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 0.95% and Pearson (PSO) at 1.46% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

0.95%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
ARMK
0.95%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

1.46%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
PSO
1.46%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Aramark (ARMK) at 32.52% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Pearson (PSO) at 51.09% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

32.52%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
ARMK
32.52%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

51.09%

Max
89.80%
PSO
51.09%
Q3
36.83%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%1.46%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)32.52%51.09%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Aramark (ARMK) at 36.74 and Pearson (PSO) at 25.78 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

36.74

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
ARMK
36.74
Median
21.88
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

25.78

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
PSO
25.78
Median
21.88
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Aramark (ARMK) at 0.70 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Pearson (PSO) at 2.86 prices around its industry’s middle — ARMK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

0.70

Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
ARMK
0.70
Min
0.08

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

2.86

Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
PSO
2.86
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
Min
0.08
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Aramark (ARMK) at 4.08 and Pearson (PSO) at 2.38 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ARMK

Consumer Services industry group

4.08

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
ARMK
4.08
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51

PSO

Consumer Services industry group

2.38

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
PSO
2.38
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
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Aramark (ARMK) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Aramark (ARMK) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricARMKPSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)36.7425.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.702.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.082.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.70%8.08%