Pearson (or “the company”) is an international media and education company, operating businesses in the education, business information and consumer publishing markets (Pearson 2011). Pearson generates revenues through five business divisions: North American education (46.6% of the total revenues in FY2010), international education (21.8%), Penguin (18.6%), FT group (7.1%),and professional (5.9%).Revenues by Division. In FY2010, the North American education division recorded revenues of £2,640 million ($4,082.3million), an increase of 6.9% over 2009.The international education division recorded revenues of £1,234 million ($1,908.2 million) in FY2010,an increase of 19.2% over 2009.The Penguin division recorded revenues of £1,053 million ($1,628.3 million) in FY2010, an increase of 5.1% over 2009.The FT group division recorded revenues of £403 million ($623.2 million) in FY2010, an increase of12.6% over 2009.The professional division recorded revenues of £333 million ($514.9 million) in FY2010, an increase of 21.1% over 2009 (Pearson 2011).
Competitor and industry Analysis
The company's significant position in education domain helps it to retain and attract more customers and supports top line growth (Pearson 2011). However, intense competition may lead to pricing pressures thereby adversely affecting the company's operating margins and market share. The group has to face competition from other publishing houses within the industry. The competition is not intense in the United States. However, in Asian and European markets, the group has set solid foundations. The following companies are the major competitors of Pearson plc