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.
| Profile Item | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Relx PLC Sponsored ADR | Waste Management, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| 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 | 89.50 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 6, 1994 | June 22, 1988 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -40.26% | -1.03% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.99% | 19.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.74 | 0.44 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.63M | 2.20M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but RELX (RELX) at 70.51% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Waste Management (WM) at 29.94% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
29.94%
- Max
- 53.04%
- WM
- 29.94%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- 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 Management (WM) at 10.99%, 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.99%
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- WM
- 10.99%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 31.41% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 17.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
17.52%
- Max
- 38.33%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- WM
- 17.52%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 70.51% | 29.94% |
| ROA (TTM) | 12.49% | 6.60% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.53% | 10.99% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 31.41% | 17.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 66.29% | 40.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.65% | 14.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.89% | 8.56% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.63% | -1.62% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.76% | 7.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both RELX (RELX) at 0.49 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.93 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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.93
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- WM
- 0.93
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but RELX is more stretched: Waste Management (WM) at 2.28 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and RELX (RELX) at 3.04 is above its industry benchmark range.
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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.28
- Max
- 2.61
- WM
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.49 | 0.93 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.04 | 2.28 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.23 | 2.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
RELX (RELX) at 2.16% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Waste Management (WM) at 1.53% 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.53%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- WM
- 1.53%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 57.42% and Waste Management (WM) at 49.49% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
49.49%
- Max
- 90.59%
- WM
- 49.49%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.16% | 1.53% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 57.42% | 49.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 21.40 and Waste Management (WM) at 32.30 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.30
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- WM
- 32.30
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both RELX (RELX) at 5.78 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.52 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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.52
- Max
- 6.61
- WM
- 3.52
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Waste Management (WM) at 8.95 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and RELX (RELX) at 72.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
8.95
- Max
- 12.70
- WM
- 8.95
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RELX | WM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.40 | 32.30 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.78 | 3.52 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 72.23 | 8.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.89% | 2.39% |