HLT vs. PSO: Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc vs. Pearson Stock Comparison
How do Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Pearson (PSO) both fall under the Consumer Services industry group, but HLT is classified in Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure while PSO is classified in Diversified Consumer Services.
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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.
| Profile Item | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. | Pearson plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Services | Consumer Services |
| GICS Industry | Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | Diversified Consumer Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines | Education Services |
| Market Capitalization | 83.78 billion USD | 10.38 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 12, 2013 | November 18, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 39.92% | 34.42% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 33.65% | 15.38% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 19.86% | 17.99% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.20% | 25.07% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.05 | 0.43 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -32.65% | -30.73% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.80M | 698.84K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.47 | 1.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.37 | 1.67 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Pearson (PSO) earns 9.16% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) has no ROE this period.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
--
- Max
- 76.75%
- Q3
- 34.07%
- Median
- 15.90%
- Q1
- 3.23%
- Min
- -40.61%
- HLT
- --
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 32.83% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Pearson (PSO) at 8.78% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
32.83%
- HLT
- 32.83%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 66.79% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Pearson (PSO) at 13.32% operates around its industry’s norm.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
66.79%
- HLT
- 66.79%
- Max
- 49.05%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 9.16% |
| ROA (TTM) | 11.32% | 5.09% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 32.83% | 8.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 66.79% | 13.32% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 79.46% | 52.04% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 7.74% 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.
EPS Growth
Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at -0.33% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.74% | 0.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.13% | -2.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -0.33% | -20.16% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.55% | 15.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Pearson (PSO) at 2.00 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 0.59 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
0.59
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 1.85
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.72
- HLT
- 0.59
- 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
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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) reports no figure this period.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
--
- Max
- 6.12
- Q3
- 2.93
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.01
- HLT
- --
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.59 | 2.00 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.52 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 4.09 | 2.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 0.16% and Pearson (PSO) at 1.46% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
0.16%
- Max
- 4.10%
- Q3
- 1.82%
- HLT
- 0.16%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 8.10% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Pearson (PSO) at 51.09% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
8.10%
- Max
- 89.80%
- Q3
- 36.83%
- HLT
- 8.10%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.16% | 1.46% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.10% | 51.09% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Pearson (PSO) at 25.78 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 50.81 sits in the richer quartile — HLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
50.81
- Max
- 71.70
- HLT
- 50.81
- Q3
- 37.12
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Pearson (PSO) at 2.86 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 16.18 clears its benchmark range — HLT looks notably rich on sales.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
16.18
- HLT
- 16.18
- Max
- 6.40
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) reports a negative P/B ratio of -12.74, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Pearson (PSO) reports 2.38, ranking against industry peers normally.
HLT
Consumer Services industry group
-12.74
- Max
- 12.02
- Q3
- 5.58
- Median
- 2.37
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- -4.51
- HLT
- -12.74
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HLT | PSO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 50.81 | 25.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 16.18 | 2.86 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -12.74 | 2.38 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.76% | 8.08% |