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PSO vs. SBUX: Pearson vs. Starbucks Stock Comparison

How do Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX) 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

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

Starbucks (SBUX) 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 Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Profile ItemPSOSBUX
NamePearson plc Sponsored ADRStarbucks Corp.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryDiversified Consumer ServicesHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-IndustryEducation ServicesRestaurants
Market Capitalization10.38 billion USD120.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 18, 1996June 26, 1992
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PSO
SBUX
GSPC
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX), 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 Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
Total Return (1Y)34.42%31.93%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.38%4.92%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.99%1.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PSO
SBUX
GSPC
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX), 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 Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.07%27.71%
Beta (5Y)0.430.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.73%-39.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)698.84K7.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PSO and SBUX 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 Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.201.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.671.62

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

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

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%
SBUX
--
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): SBUX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PSO is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Pearson (PSO) at 8.78% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 6.67% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

6.67%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
SBUX
6.67%
Median
6.63%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Pearson (PSO) at 13.32% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 12.76% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

12.76%

Max
49.05%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
SBUX
12.76%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-16.47%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
ROE (TTM)9.16%--
ROA (TTM)5.09%8.56%
Net Margin (TTM)8.78%6.67%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.32%12.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.04%22.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Pearson (PSO) reports revenue growth of 0.70%, ranked against its industry; Starbucks (SBUX) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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

EPS Growth

Both Pearson (PSO) at -20.16% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 35.58% 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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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.70%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.35%--
EPS Growth (YoY)-20.16%35.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.86%-14.85%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Starbucks (SBUX) at 0.76 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.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

0.76

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
SBUX
0.76
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): 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 Starbucks (SBUX) reports no figure this period.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
SBUX
--
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): SBUX 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 Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.000.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.52--
Net Debt / EBITDA2.353.24

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Starbucks (SBUX) at 2.35% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Pearson (PSO) at 1.46% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SBUX the richer one.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

2.35%

Max
4.10%
SBUX
2.35%
Q3
1.82%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Starbucks (SBUX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 142.77%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Pearson (PSO) reports 51.09%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

142.77%

SBUX
142.77%
Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.46%2.35%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)51.09%142.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pearson (PSO) at 25.78 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Starbucks (SBUX) at 47.70 sits in the richer quartile — SBUX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

47.70

Max
71.70
SBUX
47.70
Q3
37.12
Median
21.88
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): 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 Starbucks (SBUX) at 3.17 sits in the pricier quartile — SBUX costs more per dollar of sales.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

3.17

Max
6.40
SBUX
3.17
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
Min
0.08
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Starbucks (SBUX) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.67, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Pearson (PSO) reports 2.38, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

-15.67

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
SBUX
-15.67
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Starbucks (SBUX)
MetricPSOSBUX
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.7847.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.863.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.38-15.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.08%2.65%