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PSO vs. SCI: Pearson vs. Service Stock Comparison

How do Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI) 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 Service (SCI) both belong to the Diversified Consumer Services industry, though PSO is classified under Education Services while SCI falls under Specialized Consumer Services.

Service (SCI) 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 Service (SCI)
Profile ItemPSOSCI
NamePearson plc Sponsored ADRService Corporation International
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryDiversified Consumer ServicesDiversified Consumer Services
GICS Sub-IndustryEducation ServicesSpecialized Consumer Services
Market Capitalization10.38 billion USD10.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 18, 1996March 17, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PSO
SCI
GSPC
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI), 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 Service (SCI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
Total Return (1Y)34.42%-6.96%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.38%10.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.99%3.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.07%25.94%
Beta (5Y)0.430.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.73%-27.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)698.84K1.02M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PSO and SCI 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 Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.20-0.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.67-0.58

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Service (SCI) at 35.74% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pearson (PSO) at 9.16% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SCI.

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%

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

35.74%

Max
76.75%
SCI
35.74%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Pearson (PSO) at 8.78% and Service (SCI) at 12.70% 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%

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

12.70%

Max
25.52%
Q3
12.95%
SCI
12.70%
Median
6.63%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Pearson (PSO) at 13.32% and Service (SCI) at 21.83% 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%

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

21.83%

Max
49.05%
Q3
24.35%
SCI
21.83%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-16.47%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
ROE (TTM)9.16%35.74%
ROA (TTM)5.09%3.32%
Net Margin (TTM)8.78%12.70%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.32%21.83%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.04%25.89%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Pearson (PSO) at 0.70% and Service (SCI) at 2.93% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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

EPS Growth

Both Pearson (PSO) at -20.16% and Service (SCI) at 7.65% 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. Service (SCI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.70%2.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.35%1.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)-20.16%7.65%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.86%2.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Pearson (PSO) at 2.00 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Service (SCI) at 0.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

0.40

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
SCI
0.40
Min
0.22
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Pearson (PSO) at 0.52 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Service (SCI) at 3.28 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

3.28

Max
6.12
SCI
3.28
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.000.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.523.28
Net Debt / EBITDA2.353.73

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Service (SCI) at 1.86% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Pearson (PSO) at 1.46% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SCI 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%

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

1.86%

Max
4.10%
SCI
1.86%
Q3
1.82%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Service (SCI) at 34.83% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Pearson (PSO) at 51.09% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

34.83%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
SCI
34.83%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.46%1.86%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)51.09%34.83%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Pearson (PSO) at 25.78 and Service (SCI) at 18.34 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

18.34

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
Median
21.88
SCI
18.34
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Pearson (PSO) at 2.86 and Service (SCI) at 2.27 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

2.27

Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
SCI
2.27
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
Min
0.08
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pearson (PSO) at 2.38 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Service (SCI) at 6.37 carries an above-peer premium to book — SCI is pricier on assets.

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

SCI

Consumer Services industry group

6.37

Max
12.02
SCI
6.37
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
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Pearson (PSO) vs. Service (SCI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pearson (PSO) and Service (SCI)
MetricPSOSCI
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.7818.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.862.27
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.386.37
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.08%3.57%