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RELX vs. WM: RELX vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison

How do RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM) 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 Management (WM) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but RELX is classified in Professional Services while WM is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.

Waste Management (WM) 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 RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
Profile ItemRELXWM
NameRelx PLC Sponsored ADRWaste Management, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization60.03 billion USD89.76 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 6, 1994June 22, 1988
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RELX
WM
GSPC
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM), 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 RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
Total Return (1Y)-25.81%0.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.72%13.52%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.78%10.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RELX
WM
GSPC
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM), 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 RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.09%20.21%
Beta (5Y)0.710.42
Max Drawdown (5Y)-49.91%-18.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.74M2.16M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RELX and WM 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 RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.90-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.21-0.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but RELX (RELX) at 131.86% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Waste Management (WM) at 29.84% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

29.84%

Max
46.24%
WM
29.84%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both RELX (RELX) at 23.27% and Waste Management (WM) at 11.12% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.12%

Max
23.27%
WM
11.12%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both RELX (RELX) at 32.01% and Waste Management (WM) at 18.99% 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

32.01%

Max
37.53%
RELX
32.01%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.99%

Max
37.53%
WM
18.99%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
ROE (TTM)131.86%29.84%
ROA (TTM)13.12%6.57%
Net Margin (TTM)23.27%11.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.01%18.99%
Gross Margin (TTM)66.42%40.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Waste Management (WM) at 14.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while RELX (RELX) at 1.65% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WM.

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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both RELX (RELX) at 8.63% and Waste Management (WM) at -1.62% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.65%14.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.89%8.56%
EPS Growth (YoY)8.63%-1.62%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)9.76%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both RELX (RELX) at 0.45 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.91 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
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
RELX
0.45
Min
0.45

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
WM
0.91
Min
0.45
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): 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: Waste Management (WM) at 2.35 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and RELX (RELX) at 7.10 is above its industry benchmark range.

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

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.35

WM
2.35
Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
Median
0.94
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.450.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)7.102.35
Net Debt / EBITDA2.642.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RELX (RELX) at 1.99% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Waste Management (WM) at 1.58% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RELX the richer one.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.99%

Max
4.53%
RELX
1.99%
Q3
1.84%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.58%

Max
4.53%
Q3
1.84%
WM
1.58%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and WM more so: RELX (RELX) at 53.45% sits above the band, while Waste Management (WM) at 93.22% exceeds every peer in its group.

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%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

93.22%

WM
93.22%
Max
90.59%
Q3
37.26%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.99%1.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)53.45%93.22%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

RELX (RELX) at 20.49 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Management (WM) at 59.25 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for WM’s trailing earnings.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.49

Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
Median
23.50
RELX
20.49
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

59.25

WM
59.25
Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both RELX (RELX) at 6.18 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.50 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

6.18

Max
7.09
RELX
6.18
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.50

Max
7.09
WM
3.50
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Waste Management (WM) at 9.05 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and RELX (RELX) at 144.30 prices even higher, above its industry range.

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

144.30

RELX
144.30
Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.05

Max
12.24
WM
9.05
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66
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RELX (RELX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for RELX (RELX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRELXWM
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.4959.25
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.183.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)144.309.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.72%2.62%