Pearson Plc (PSO) vs John Wiley & Sons (WLYB)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
John Wiley & Sons (WLYB) has outperformed Pearson Plc (PSO) over the past year, gaining 19.7% versus a gain of 16.9%. Over five years, PSO leads with a +90.5% price change compared with -9.8% for WLYB. Pearson Plc is the larger company by market cap ($10.00 billion vs $2.43 billion), about 4.1 times the size.
On valuation, John Wiley & Sons trades at a lower trailing P/E (12.9x vs 24.8x for Pearson Plc). John Wiley & Sons offers the higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 1.54%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | PSO | WLYB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.63 | $47.90 |
| Market cap | $10.00B | $2.43B |
| 1-day change | +1.28% | 0.00% |
| YTD return | +16.95% | +55.12% |
| 1-year return | +16.87% | +19.69% |
| 5-year return | +90.49% | -9.79% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.82 | 12.91 |
| Forward P/E | 17.11 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.67 | $3.71 |
| Dividend yield | 1.54% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $0.256 | $1.42 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $1.68B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | -0.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $221.62M |
| Gross margin | — | 74.26% |
| Operating margin | — | 16.51% |
| Net margin | — | 13.22% |
| 52-week high | $17.75 | $55.51 |
| 52-week low | $12.02 | $29.62 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.31% | -13.71% |
| Analyst consensus | none | — |
| Avg. price target upside | -5.59% | — |
| Average volume | 709.49K | 2.50K |
| Shares outstanding | 601.07M | 8.76M |
| Employees | 13,665 | 4,500 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Books | Books |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Pearson Plc is about 4.1 times larger than John Wiley & Sons by market value ($10.00B vs $2.43B).
- Pearson Plc trades at a higher earnings multiple (24.8x vs 12.9x trailing P/E).
- John Wiley & Sons offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 1.54%).
About Pearson Plc
PSO stock →Pearson plc provides educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Enterprise Learning & Skills, and Higher Education.
Consumer Discretionary · Books · 13,665 employees
About John Wiley & Sons
WLYB stock →John Wiley & Sons, Inc., a publisher, provides authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through Research and Learning segment.
Consumer Discretionary · Books · 4,500 employees
PSO vs WLYB FAQ
Which is bigger, Pearson Plc or John Wiley & Sons?
Pearson Plc (PSO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.00B compared with $2.43B for John Wiley & Sons (WLYB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, PSO or WLYB?
WLYB returned +19.69% over the past 12 months, compared with +16.87% for PSO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, PSO or WLYB?
WLYB has the lower trailing P/E at 12.9, versus 24.8 for PSO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Pearson Plc or John Wiley & Sons?
John Wiley & Sons has the higher yield at 2.97%, compared with 1.54% for Pearson Plc.
Are Pearson Plc and John Wiley & Sons in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Books industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.