RELX vs. RTO: RELX vs. Rentokil Initial Stock Comparison
How do RELX (RELX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO) 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
RELX (RELX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but RELX is classified in Professional Services while RTO is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.
Both RELX (RELX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | RELX PLC American Depositary Receipt | Rentokil Initial plc American Depositary Shares (each representing five Ordinary Shares) |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Research & Consulting Services | Environmental & Facilities Services |
| Market Capitalization | 69.71 billion USD | 11.87 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 6, 1994 | November 18, 1996 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -2.86% | -10.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 5.69% | -1.88% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.05% | -8.85% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 35.19% | 33.85% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.68 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -49.91% | -50.93% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.19M | 1.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.20 | -0.42 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.29 | -0.57 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 131.86% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 5.97%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
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%
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.97%
- Max
- 47.06%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- Median
- 14.11%
- RTO
- 5.97%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 23.27% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 6.70%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
6.70%
- Max
- 23.28%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- RTO
- 6.70%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 32.01% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 12.79%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
12.79%
- Max
- 38.50%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- RTO
- 12.79%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 131.86% | 5.97% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.12% | 4.00% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.27% | 6.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.01% | 12.79% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 66.42% | 14.01% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both RELX (RELX) at 1.65% and Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 4.40% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 21.70% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while RELX (RELX) at 8.63% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RTO.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.65% | 4.40% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.89% | 15.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.63% | 21.70% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.76% | 10.00% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both RELX (RELX) at 0.45 and Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.06 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.06
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- RTO
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.11 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.
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
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.11
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- RTO
- 1.11
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.45 | 1.06 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 7.10 | 1.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.64 | 2.93 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 1.66% and Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 0.53% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
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%
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.53%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- Median
- 0.60%
- RTO
- 0.53%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 53.59% and Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 97.56% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
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%
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
97.56%
- Max
- 99.58%
- RTO
- 97.56%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.66% | 0.53% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 53.59% | 97.56% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 24.05 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 37.48 sits in the richer quartile — RTO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
37.48
- Max
- 49.47
- RTO
- 37.48
- Q3
- 33.76
- Median
- 24.16
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.66 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.
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
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.66
- Max
- 7.17
- Q3
- 3.35
- RTO
- 1.66
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 2.16 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.
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
RTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.16
- Max
- 11.25
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- RTO
- 2.16
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RELX | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.05 | 37.48 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.17 | 1.66 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 169.44 | 2.16 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.20% | 8.85% |