CTAS vs. RELX: Cintas vs. RELX Stock Comparison
How do Cintas (CTAS) and RELX (RELX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Cintas (CTAS) and RELX (RELX) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but CTAS is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies while RELX is classified in Professional Services.
Cintas (CTAS) trades as ordinary local shares, while RELX (RELX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cintas Corporation | Relx PLC Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Commercial Services & Supplies | Professional Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Support Services | Research & Consulting Services |
| Market Capitalization | 79.84 billion USD | 61.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 19, 1983 | October 6, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -8.77% | -25.60% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.42% | 4.72% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.51% | 5.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.22% | 33.07% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.91 | 0.72 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.68% | -49.91% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.29M | 2.79M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.55 | -0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.78 | -1.20 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but RELX (RELX) at 131.86% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cintas (CTAS) at 40.71% also sits in the top quartile.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
40.71%
- Max
- 46.24%
- CTAS
- 40.71%
- Q3
- 24.40%
- Median
- 13.50%
- Q1
- 0.62%
- Min
- -31.82%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
131.86%
- RELX
- 131.86%
- Max
- 46.24%
- Q3
- 24.40%
- Median
- 13.50%
- Q1
- 0.62%
- Min
- -31.82%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Cintas (CTAS) at 17.75% and RELX (RELX) at 23.27% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
17.75%
- Max
- 23.27%
- CTAS
- 17.75%
- Q3
- 10.86%
- Median
- 5.53%
- Q1
- 0.56%
- Min
- -13.84%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
23.27%
- RELX
- 23.27%
- Max
- 23.27%
- Q3
- 10.86%
- Median
- 5.53%
- Q1
- 0.56%
- Min
- -13.84%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 23.69% and RELX (RELX) at 32.01% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
23.69%
- Max
- 37.53%
- CTAS
- 23.69%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.96%
- Q1
- 4.50%
- Min
- -4.70%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.01%
- Max
- 37.53%
- RELX
- 32.01%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.96%
- Q1
- 4.50%
- Min
- -4.70%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 40.71% | 131.86% |
| ROA (TTM) | 16.10% | 13.12% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.75% | 23.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.69% | 32.01% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 50.67% | 66.42% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 8.94% and RELX (RELX) at 1.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 11.59% and RELX (RELX) at 8.63% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.94% | 1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.51% | 3.89% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 11.59% | 8.63% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.77% | 9.76% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Cintas (CTAS) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while RELX (RELX) at 0.45 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RELX.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.43
- Max
- 3.24
- Q3
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.48
- CTAS
- 1.43
- Q1
- 1.14
- Min
- 0.45
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.45
- Max
- 3.24
- Q3
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.48
- Q1
- 1.14
- RELX
- 0.45
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Cintas (CTAS) at 0.53 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 7.10 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.53
- Max
- 2.35
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.94
- CTAS
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.00
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
7.10
- RELX
- 7.10
- Max
- 2.35
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.94
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.43 | 0.45 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.53 | 7.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.81 | 2.64 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 1.94% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Cintas (CTAS) at 0.90% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RELX the richer one.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.90%
- Max
- 4.53%
- Q3
- 1.84%
- CTAS
- 0.90%
- Median
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.94%
- Max
- 4.53%
- RELX
- 1.94%
- Q3
- 1.84%
- Median
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Cintas (CTAS) at 36.66% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while RELX (RELX) at 53.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
36.66%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 37.26%
- CTAS
- 36.66%
- Median
- 15.87%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
53.45%
- Max
- 90.59%
- RELX
- 53.45%
- Q3
- 37.26%
- Median
- 15.87%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.90% | 1.94% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.66% | 53.45% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 21.27 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 40.64 sits in the richer quartile — CTAS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
40.64
- Max
- 49.50
- CTAS
- 40.64
- Q3
- 31.36
- Median
- 23.50
- Q1
- 17.33
- Min
- 6.47
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.27
- Max
- 49.50
- Q3
- 31.36
- Median
- 23.50
- RELX
- 21.27
- Q1
- 17.33
- Min
- 6.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 7.09 and RELX (RELX) at 6.37 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
7.09
- CTAS
- 7.09
- Max
- 7.09
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.39
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.14
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
6.37
- Max
- 7.09
- RELX
- 6.37
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.39
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Cintas (CTAS) at 15.53 and RELX (RELX) at 148.87 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
15.53
- CTAS
- 15.53
- Max
- 12.24
- Q3
- 5.90
- Median
- 2.99
- Q1
- 1.66
- Min
- -4.66
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
148.87
- RELX
- 148.87
- Max
- 12.24
- Q3
- 5.90
- Median
- 2.99
- Q1
- 1.66
- Min
- -4.66
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.64 | 21.27 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.09 | 6.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 15.53 | 148.87 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.83% | 3.60% |