Adds CEO comments in paragraphs 2-3 , shares in paragraph 6

LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - British education company Pearson PSON.L reported a jump in sales growth in the final quarter of the year, driven by its Assessment & Qualifications unit and putting it on track to meet the market forecast for 2026 profit to rise by 6%.

Chief Executive Omar Abbosh said Pearson had started 2026 with good momentum, pointing to an increase in business with enterprises, including doing more work with IBM and Deloitte.

"We said we would go deeper on innovation and AI across our full product suite and we have done that," he said in an interview on Wednesday.

In a trading update ahead of full-year results next month, Pearson said its underlying revenue in 2025 grew by 4%, underpinned by 8% growth in the final quarter.

It said adjusted operating profit would be between 610 million and 615 million pounds, in line with market forecasts.

The market, however, marked Pearson's shares down 7.5% in morning deals to the lowest level since December 9.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said a lack of detail on its guidance and the loss of a U.S. student assessment contract in New Jersey saw Pearson punished in early trading.

Pearson's Chief Financial Officer Sally Johnson said the lost New Jersey contract was worth 20-30 million pounds, adding that the group had a track record of winning similar deals.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Sarah Young)

((paul.sandle@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 6843; Reuters Messaging: paul.sandle.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))