J vs. RELX: Jacobs vs. RELX Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Jacobs (J) 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

Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX) are both classified in the Research & Consulting Services sub-industry within the broader Professional Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Jacobs (J) 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.

Company profile comparison for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Profile Item	J	RELX
Name	Jacobs Solutions Inc.	RELX PLC American Depositary Receipt
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Professional Services	Professional Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Research & Consulting Services	Research & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization	17.43 billion USD	69.71 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	October 6, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RELX

GSPC

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
Total Return (1Y)	3.06%	-2.86%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	13.63%	5.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.41%	7.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RELX

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.18%	35.19%
Beta (5Y)	0.68	0.68
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-34.44%	-49.91%
Avg. Volume (3M)	878.62K	2.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

J and RELX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.04	-0.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.05	-0.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

RELX (RELX) at 131.86% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Jacobs (J) at 8.00%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.00%

Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
J: 8.00%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

131.86%

RELX: 131.86%
Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

RELX (RELX) at 23.27% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 2.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.38%

Max: 23.28%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
J: 2.38%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.27%

Max: 23.28%
RELX: 23.27%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

RELX (RELX) at 32.01% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 7.39%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.39%

Max: 38.50%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
J: 7.39%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.01%

Max: 38.50%
RELX: 32.01%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
ROE (TTM)	8.00%	131.86%
ROA (TTM)	4.55%	13.12%
Net Margin (TTM)	2.38%	23.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.39%	32.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.07%	66.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Jacobs (J) at 4.60% 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.

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

RELX (RELX) at 8.63% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Jacobs (J) at -62.34% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.60%	1.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.13%	3.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-62.34%	8.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-21.82%	9.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Jacobs (J) at 1.29 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.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.29

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.55
J: 1.29
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.45

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.45

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.55
Q1: 1.09
RELX: 0.45
Min: 0.45

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but RELX is more stretched: Jacobs (J) at 1.25 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and RELX (RELX) at 7.10 is above its industry benchmark range.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.25

Max: 2.37
J: 1.25
Q3: 1.25
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.10

RELX: 7.10
Max: 2.37
Q3: 1.25
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.29	0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.25	7.10
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.72	2.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Jacobs (J) at 0.92% and RELX (RELX) at 1.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.92%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
J: 0.92%
Median: 0.60%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.66%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
RELX: 1.66%
Median: 0.60%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Jacobs (J) at 45.18% and RELX (RELX) at 53.59% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

45.18%

Max: 99.58%
J: 45.18%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

53.59%

Max: 99.58%
RELX: 53.59%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.92%	1.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.18%	53.59%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

RELX (RELX) at 24.05 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Jacobs (J) at 49.47 sits in the richer quartile — J needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

49.47

J: 49.47
Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
Median: 24.16
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.05

Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
Median: 24.16
RELX: 24.05
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Jacobs (J) at 1.23 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 7.17 sits in the pricier quartile — RELX costs more per dollar of sales.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.23

Max: 7.17
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
J: 1.23
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.17

RELX: 7.17
Max: 7.17
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Jacobs (J) at 5.34 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 169.44 prices above its benchmark range — RELX looks rich relative to book.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.34

Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
J: 5.34
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

169.44

RELX: 169.44
Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

Jacobs (J) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Jacobs (J) and RELX (RELX)
Metric	J	RELX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	49.47	24.05
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.23	7.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.34	169.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.71%	3.20%