RTO vs. ULS: Rentokil Initial vs. UL Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS) 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

Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but RTO is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies while ULS is classified in Professional Services.

Rentokil Initial (RTO) carries decades of public-market history since November 18, 1996, while UL (ULS) listed on April 12, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the RTO side.

UL (ULS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Profile Item	RTO	ULS
Name	Rentokil Initial plc American Depositary Shares (each representing five Ordinary Shares)	UL Solutions Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United Kingdom	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Commercial Services & Supplies	Professional Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Environmental & Facilities Services	Research & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization	11.87 billion USD	15.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 18, 1996	April 12, 2024
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RTO

ULS

GSPC

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS), 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
Total Return (1Y)	-10.02%	-3.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-1.88%	--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.85%	--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RTO

ULS

GSPC

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS), 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	33.85%	42.88%
Beta (5Y)	0.98	0.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-50.93%	-38.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.74M	879.46K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

RTO and ULS 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.42	-0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.57	-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 36.51% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 5.97% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ULS.

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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.51%

Max: 47.06%
ULS: 36.51%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 16.13% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 6.70%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.13%

Max: 23.28%
ULS: 16.13%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 19.81% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 12.79%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.81%

Max: 38.50%
ULS: 19.81%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
ROE (TTM)	5.97%	36.51%
ROA (TTM)	4.00%	11.46%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.70%	16.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)	12.79%	19.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)	14.01%	50.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 4.40% and UL (ULS) at 6.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 21.70% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while UL (ULS) at -1.23% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RTO.

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.40%	6.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	15.40%	6.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)	21.70%	-1.23%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.00%	2.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

UL (ULS) at 2.09 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.06 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RTO.

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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.09

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
ULS: 2.09
Median: 1.55
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.45

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.11 and UL (ULS) at 0.54 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.54

Max: 2.37
Q3: 1.25
Median: 0.88
ULS: 0.54
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.06	2.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.11	0.54
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.93	-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 0.53% and UL (ULS) at 0.74% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.74%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
ULS: 0.74%
Median: 0.60%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 22.42% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 97.56% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.42%

Max: 99.58%
Q3: 41.99%
ULS: 22.42%
Median: 17.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.53%	0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	97.56%	22.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 31.21 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.

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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.21

Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
ULS: 31.21
Median: 24.16
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.66 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while UL (ULS) at 4.98 sits in the pricier quartile — ULS costs more per dollar of sales.

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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.98

Max: 7.17
ULS: 4.98
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 2.16 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while UL (ULS) at 9.32 carries an above-peer premium to book — ULS is pricier on assets.

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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.32

Max: 11.25
ULS: 9.32
Q3: 6.08
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

Rentokil Initial (RTO) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Rentokil Initial (RTO) and UL (ULS)
Metric	RTO	ULS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	37.48	31.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.66	4.98
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.16	9.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.85%	2.94%