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BKNG vs. PSO: Booking vs. Pearson Stock Comparison

How do Booking (BKNG) 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

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

Booking (BKNG) 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 Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
Profile ItemBKNGPSO
NameBooking Holdings Inc.Pearson plc Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureDiversified Consumer Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHotels, Resorts & Cruise LinesEducation Services
Market Capitalization119.49 billion USD10.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 31, 1999November 18, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BKNG
PSO
GSPC
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Booking (BKNG) 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 Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
Total Return (1Y)-17.04%34.42%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.36%15.38%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.44%17.99%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BKNG
PSO
GSPC
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Booking (BKNG) 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 Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)39.63%25.07%
Beta (5Y)1.110.43
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.53%-30.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.18M698.84K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BKNG 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 Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.541.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.781.67

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Pearson (PSO) earns 9.16% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Booking (BKNG) has no ROE this period.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

--

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

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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): BKNG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PSO is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Booking (BKNG) at 25.52% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Pearson (PSO) at 8.78%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

25.52%

BKNG
25.52%
Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
Median
6.63%
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Booking (BKNG) at 38.69% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Pearson (PSO) at 13.32%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

38.69%

Max
49.05%
BKNG
38.69%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
ROE (TTM)--9.16%
ROA (TTM)20.25%5.09%
Net Margin (TTM)25.52%8.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.69%13.32%
Gross Margin (TTM)87.18%52.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Booking (BKNG) at 13.39% 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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Booking (BKNG) at -4.12% 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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.39%0.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)16.35%-2.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)-4.12%-20.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)29.44%15.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Booking (BKNG) at 1.12 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.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

1.12

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
BKNG
1.12
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Pearson (PSO) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52 against its industry range, while Booking (BKNG) reports no figure this period.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
BKNG
--

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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): BKNG does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; PSO is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.122.00
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.52
Net Debt / EBITDA0.562.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Booking (BKNG) at 0.98% and Pearson (PSO) at 1.46% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

0.98%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
BKNG
0.98%
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Booking (BKNG) at 17.84% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Pearson (PSO) at 51.09% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

17.84%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
BKNG
17.84%
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.98%1.46%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)17.84%51.09%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Booking (BKNG) at 17.43 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.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

17.43

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
Median
21.88
BKNG
17.43
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Pearson (PSO) at 2.86 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Booking (BKNG) at 4.25 sits in the pricier quartile — BKNG costs more per dollar of sales.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

4.25

Max
6.40
BKNG
4.25
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Booking (BKNG) reports a negative P/B ratio of -11.52, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Pearson (PSO) reports 2.38, ranking against industry peers normally.

BKNG

Consumer Services industry group

-11.52

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
BKNG
-11.52

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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Booking (BKNG) vs. Pearson (PSO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Booking (BKNG) and Pearson (PSO)
MetricBKNGPSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.4325.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.252.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-11.522.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.37%8.08%