RELX vs. WCN: RELX vs. Waste Connections Stock Comparison
How do RELX (RELX) and Waste Connections (WCN) 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 Waste Connections (WCN) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but RELX is classified in Professional Services while WCN is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.
Waste Connections (WCN) 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 | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Relx PLC Sponsored ADR | Waste Connections Inc. |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | Canada |
| 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 | 55.43 billion USD | 42.35 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 6, 1994 | May 22, 1998 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -40.26% | -10.19% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.99% | 22.51% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.74 | 0.49 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.63M | 1.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 70.51% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Waste Connections (WCN) at 13.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
70.51%
- RELX
- 70.51%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
13.12%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- WCN
- 13.12%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
Net Margin (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 21.53% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waste Connections (WCN) at 10.97%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.53%
- Max
- 26.63%
- RELX
- 21.53%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.97%
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- WCN
- 10.97%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 31.41% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 18.75% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.41%
- Max
- 38.33%
- RELX
- 31.41%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 38.33%
- WCN
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 70.51% | 13.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 12.49% | 5.47% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.53% | 10.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 31.41% | 18.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 66.29% | 42.50% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.65% | 6.14% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.89% | 9.49% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.63% | 74.48% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.76% | 8.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both RELX (RELX) at 0.49 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.69 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
0.49
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- RELX
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.45
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.69
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- WCN
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.17 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 3.04 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.04
- RELX
- 3.04
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.17
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- WCN
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.49 | 0.69 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.04 | 1.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.23 | 3.04 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 2.16% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.80% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RELX the richer one.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.16%
- Max
- 4.01%
- RELX
- 2.16%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.80%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- WCN
- 0.80%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Waste Connections (WCN) at 32.44% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while RELX (RELX) at 57.42% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
57.42%
- Max
- 90.59%
- RELX
- 57.42%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.44%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- WCN
- 32.44%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.16% | 0.80% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 57.42% | 32.44% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 21.40 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 40.66 sits in the richer quartile — WCN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.40
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- RELX
- 21.40
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
40.66
- Max
- 67.48
- WCN
- 40.66
- Q3
- 35.82
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 5.78 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.41 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.78
- Max
- 6.61
- RELX
- 5.78
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.41
- Max
- 6.61
- WCN
- 4.41
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Waste Connections (WCN) at 5.17 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 72.23 prices above its benchmark range — RELX looks rich relative to book.
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
72.23
- RELX
- 72.23
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.17
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- WCN
- 5.17
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.40 | 40.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.78 | 4.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 72.23 | 5.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.89% | 2.50% |