RELX (RELX) Stock Analysis

October 26, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at RELX (RELX): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Commercial & Professional Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

RELX (RELX) trades as an ADR rather than ordinary local shares — read it with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile fields for RELX (RELX)
Profile Item	RELX
Name	RELX PLC American Depositary Receipt
Country/Region	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Professional Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Research & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization	70.37 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	October 6, 1994
Security Type	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RELX

GSPC

RELX (RELX) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): 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 RELX (RELX) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for RELX (RELX) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	-9.34%	5.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	7.39%	11.52%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	7.71%	2.83%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RELX

GSPC

RELX (RELX) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): 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 RELX (RELX) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.76%	41.59%
Beta (5Y)	0.69	0.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-49.91%	-54.83%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. RELX is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.40	0.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.55	0.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

RELX (RELX) posts ROE of 131.86%, above the industry benchmark range. Equity is being turned into profit at an exceptional rate, but very high ROE should still be checked against leverage, buybacks, and the size of the equity base.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

131.86%

Group distribution

RELX: 131.86%
Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.59%
Median: 14.96%
Q1: 3.29%
Min: -24.32%

Largest peers

RELX: 131.86%
ADP: 72.24%
CTAS: 41.38%
WM: 29.84%
RSG: 18.15%
WCN: 14.19%
TRI: 14.17%

Where RELX (RELX) stands on ROE within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

RELX (RELX) keeps 23.27% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.27%

Group distribution

RELX: 23.27%
Max: 23.27%
Q3: 11.25%
Median: 5.56%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -8.60%

Largest peers

RELX: 23.27%
TRI: 21.22%
ADP: 20.11%
CTAS: 17.82%
RSG: 12.94%
WCN: 11.40%
WM: 11.12%

Where RELX (RELX) stands on net margin within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

RELX (RELX) turns 32.01% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.01%

Group distribution

Max: 38.50%
RELX: 32.01%
Q3: 18.95%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 5.60%
Min: -12.00%

Largest peers

RELX: 32.01%
TRI: 28.30%
CTAS: 24.10%
ADP: 23.46%
WCN: 20.77%
RSG: 20.43%
WM: 18.99%

Where RELX (RELX) stands on operating margin within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	131.86%	14.96%
ROA (TTM)	13.12%	5.89%
Net Margin (TTM)	23.27%	5.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)	32.01%	11.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)	66.42%	36.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

RELX (RELX) grew revenue 1.65%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

RELX (RELX): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

RELX (RELX) grew earnings per share 8.63%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

RELX (RELX): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.65%	6.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.89%	6.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)	8.63%	5.51%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.76%	9.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

RELX (RELX) has current ratio of 0.45, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.45

Group distribution

Max: 3.24
Q3: 2.00
Median: 1.44
Q1: 1.13
RELX: 0.45
Min: 0.45

Largest peers

CTAS: 1.45
ADP: 1.05
WM: 0.91
WCN: 0.67
RSG: 0.64
TRI: 0.51
RELX: 0.45

Where RELX (RELX) stands on current ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

RELX (RELX) has debt-to-equity ratio of 7.10, above the industry benchmark range. Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity, leaving the balance sheet more exposed to rate, refinancing, or earnings shocks.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.10

Group distribution

RELX: 7.10
Max: 2.35
Q3: 1.25
Median: 0.92
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

RELX: 7.10
WM: 2.35
WCN: 1.24
RSG: 1.19
ADP: 0.91
CTAS: 0.52
TRI: 0.29

Where RELX (RELX) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.45	1.44
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	7.10	0.92
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.64	2.54

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RELX (RELX) has dividend yield of 1.70%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.70%

Group distribution

Max: 4.25%
Q3: 1.71%
RELX: 1.70%
Median: 0.55%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

ADP: 2.16%
TRI: 2.06%
RELX: 1.70%
WM: 1.48%
RSG: 1.03%
CTAS: 0.83%
WCN: 0.76%

Where RELX (RELX) stands on dividend yield within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

RELX (RELX) has payout ratio of 53.59%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

53.59%

Group distribution

Max: 99.58%
RELX: 53.59%
Q3: 40.21%
Median: 16.62%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -2.09%

Largest peers

TRI: 66.43%
ADP: 60.69%
RELX: 53.59%
WM: 50.14%
CTAS: 36.88%
RSG: 35.46%
WCN: 31.39%

Where RELX (RELX) stands on payout ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.70%	0.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	53.59%	16.62%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

RELX (RELX) trades at P/E ratio of 24.28, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.28

Group distribution

Max: 48.19
Q3: 32.72
RELX: 24.28
Median: 23.66
Q1: 16.53
Min: 7.37

Largest peers

CTAS: 44.20
WCN: 41.84
RSG: 34.11
WM: 33.91
TRI: 32.33
ADP: 27.80
RELX: 24.28

Where RELX (RELX) stands on P/E ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

RELX (RELX) trades at 7.24 on P/S ratio, above the industry benchmark range. The stock is being valued at an unusually rich price per dollar of trailing revenue.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.24

Group distribution

RELX: 7.24
Max: 6.81
Q3: 3.25
Median: 1.46
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.12

Largest peers

CTAS: 7.70
RELX: 7.24
TRI: 6.81
ADP: 5.49
WCN: 4.70
RSG: 4.36
WM: 3.73

Where RELX (RELX) stands on P/S ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

RELX (RELX) trades at 171.00 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

171.00

Group distribution

RELX: 171.00
Max: 12.79
Q3: 6.08
Median: 3.03
Q1: 1.58
Min: -3.96

Largest peers

RELX: 171.00
ADP: 20.06
CTAS: 17.20
WM: 9.65
RSG: 6.12
WCN: 5.92
TRI: 4.80

Where RELX (RELX) stands on P/B ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

RELX (RELX) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RELX	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	24.28	23.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	7.24	1.46
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	171.00	3.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.17%	4.85%