Pearson Delivers Good Progress, Q3 Underlying Group Sales Growth Accelerates to 4%

Pearson's Q3 sales growth accelerated to 4%, with underlying group sales growing 2% for the nine-month period. The company is on track to deliver on its 2025 market expectations, driven by strategic and operational progress, including a new partnership with Cognizant and a strategic alliance with Deloitte. Enterprise Learning & Skills sales increased 2% in Q3, with quarter-on-quarter improvement in Enterprise Solutions. Pearson VUE returned to growth, and Virtual Learning sales increased 17% in Q3.

Pearson, a leading global learning company, has reported robust Q3 sales growth, with underlying group sales accelerating to 4% and the nine-month period showing a 2% increase. The company's strategic and operational progress, including a new partnership with Cognizant and a strategic alliance with Deloitte, are driving the strong performance, according to the Pearson 2025 trading update.

Key highlights of Pearson's Q3 performance include:

- Assessment & Qualifications: Sales grew 4% in Q3, with Pearson VUE returning to growth, driven by new contract launches. Sales increased 2% for the nine-month period, despite the pause in a contract delivered in 2024 resuming in the quarter, the trading update noted.
- Virtual Learning: Sales increased 17% in Q3, driven by a 13% increase in 2025/26 academic year enrolments in the Fall semester. The company successfully opened two new schools for the 2025/26 academic year and expanded its AI custom assessment tool to all teachers, the trading update said.
- Higher Education: Sales increased 2% for the nine-month period, benefiting from growth in Inclusive Access and US digital subscriptions. US Higher Education sales grew 2% in Q3, driven by solid growth in the core US Higher Education Courseware business, the update reported.
- English Language Learning: Sales returned to growth in Q3, with a 1% increase driven by strong performance in Pearson Test of English (PTE) ahead of recent test enhancements, per the trading update.
- Enterprise Learning & Skills: Sales increased 3% for the nine-month period, with quarter-on-quarter improvement in Enterprise Solutions. New wins with Cognizant and Deloitte contributed to this growth, the update added.

Pearson expects group sales growth and adjusted operating profit to be in line with market expectations for 2025, with stronger sales growth anticipated in Q4. The company is positioned to deliver a mid-single digit underlying sales growth CAGR beyond 2025, with sustained margin improvement and strong free cash conversion, the trading update concluded.