FA vs. RELX: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at FA and RELX, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
FA is a standard domestic listing, while RELX trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.
| Symbol | FA | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | First Advantage Corporation | RELX PLC |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Professional Services |
| Market Capitalization | 2.87 billion USD | 89.37 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 23, 2021 | October 6, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of FA and RELX by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | FA | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -1.84% | 1.14% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -9.19% | -13.66% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -17.49% | -14.41% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -8.48% | 0.11% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -4.51% | -10.09% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -11.85% | -2.48% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.96M | 2.78M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.07M | 2.48M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 43.05% | 16.41% |
| Beta | 1.27 | 0.72 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
FA
-12.49%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 52.17%
- Q3
- 30.06%
- Median
- 22.21%
- Q1
- 11.67%
- Min
- -13.44%
FA has a negative Return on Equity of -12.49%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
RELX
68.01%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 52.17%
- Q3
- 30.06%
- Median
- 22.21%
- Q1
- 11.67%
- Min
- -13.44%
RELX’s Return on Equity of 68.01% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
FA
-11.99%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 26.06%
- Q3
- 13.34%
- Median
- 7.88%
- Q1
- 3.50%
- Min
- -2.93%
FA has a negative Net Profit Margin of -11.99%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
RELX
20.19%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 26.06%
- Q3
- 13.34%
- Median
- 7.88%
- Q1
- 3.50%
- Min
- -2.93%
A Net Profit Margin of 20.19% places RELX in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
FA
-2.15%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 35.84%
- Q3
- 19.38%
- Median
- 12.54%
- Q1
- 7.36%
- Min
- -5.21%
FA has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -2.15%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
RELX
30.62%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 35.84%
- Q3
- 19.38%
- Median
- 12.54%
- Q1
- 7.36%
- Min
- -5.21%
An Operating Profit Margin of 30.62% places RELX in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | FA | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -12.49% | 68.01% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -4.51% | 13.07% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -11.99% | 20.19% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -2.15% | 30.62% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 46.48% | 65.48% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
FA
1.98
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.45
- Q3
- 1.65
- Median
- 1.26
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.47
FA’s Current Ratio of 1.98 is in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
RELX
0.47
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.45
- Q3
- 1.65
- Median
- 1.26
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.47
RELX’s Current Ratio of 0.47 falls into the lower quartile for the Professional Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
FA
1.64
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.44
- Median
- 0.91
- Q1
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.00
FA’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Professional Services industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.64. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
RELX
3.46
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.44
- Median
- 0.91
- Q1
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 3.46, RELX operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Professional Services industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
FA
-1.21
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 39.67
- Q3
- 20.05
- Median
- 11.07
- Q1
- 5.36
- Min
- -2.22
FA has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -1.21. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
RELX
11.07
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 39.67
- Q3
- 20.05
- Median
- 11.07
- Q1
- 5.36
- Min
- -2.22
RELX’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 11.07 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Professional Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | FA | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.98 | 0.47 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.88 | 0.42 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.64 | 3.46 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -1.21 | 11.07 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
FA
0.01%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 5.28%
- Q3
- 2.51%
- Median
- 1.63%
- Q1
- 0.62%
- Min
- 0.00%
FA’s Dividend Yield of 0.01% is in the lower quartile for the Professional Services industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
RELX
1.80%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 5.28%
- Q3
- 2.51%
- Median
- 1.63%
- Q1
- 0.62%
- Min
- 0.00%
RELX’s Dividend Yield of 1.80% is consistent with its peers in the Professional Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
FA
29.87%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 109.23%
- Q3
- 64.39%
- Median
- 47.00%
- Q1
- 20.35%
- Min
- 0.00%
FA’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 29.87% is within the typical range for the Professional Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
RELX
60.42%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 109.23%
- Q3
- 64.39%
- Median
- 47.00%
- Q1
- 20.35%
- Min
- 0.00%
RELX’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 60.42% is within the typical range for the Professional Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | FA | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.01% | 1.80% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.87% | 60.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
FA
--
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 49.59
- Q3
- 36.59
- Median
- 28.13
- Q1
- 18.55
- Min
- 10.07
P/E Ratio data for FA is currently unavailable.
RELX
33.61
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 49.59
- Q3
- 36.59
- Median
- 28.13
- Q1
- 18.55
- Min
- 10.07
RELX’s P/E Ratio of 33.61 is within the middle range for the Professional Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
FA
2.30
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 9.54
- Q3
- 5.11
- Median
- 2.10
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.11
FA’s P/S Ratio of 2.30 aligns with the market consensus for the Professional Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
RELX
6.79
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 9.54
- Q3
- 5.11
- Median
- 2.10
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.11
RELX’s P/S Ratio of 6.79 is in the upper echelon for the Professional Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
FA
2.22
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 13.75
- Q3
- 8.87
- Median
- 4.35
- Q1
- 2.43
- Min
- 0.54
FA’s P/B Ratio of 2.22 is in the lower quartile for the Professional Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
RELX
33.17
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 13.75
- Q3
- 8.87
- Median
- 4.35
- Q1
- 2.43
- Min
- 0.54
At 33.17, RELX’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Professional Services industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | FA | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | -- | 33.61 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.30 | 6.79 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.22 | 33.17 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 41.93 | 28.66 |