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Relx PLC (RELX)
NYSE:RELX

Relx (RELX) AI Stock Analysis

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Relx

(NYSE:RELX)

Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:
$59.00
▲(12.08%Upside)
Relx's overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment, which are the most significant factors. The company's robust revenue growth, profitability, and strategic initiatives are key strengths. However, technical analysis indicates mixed momentum, and the high P/E ratio suggests potential overvaluation risks.

Relx (RELX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Relx Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionRELX PLC provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Risk; Scientific, Technical & Medical; Legal; and Exhibitions. The Risk segment offers information-based analytics and decision tools that combine public and industry specific content with technology and algorithms to assist clients in evaluating and predicting risk. The Scientific, Technical & Medical segment provides information and analytics that help institutions and professionals to progress in science and advance healthcare. The Legal segment provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers in decision-making, as well as increases the productivity. The Exhibitions segment is involved in the events business that combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products, and complete transactions. The company was formerly known as Reed Elsevier PLC and changed its name to RELX PLC in July 2015. The company was incorporated in 1903 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
How the Company Makes MoneyRELX generates revenue primarily through subscriptions, licensing, and transactional sales of its information and analytics services. In the Scientific, Technical & Medical segment, the company earns money by providing access to scientific research and medical journals through platforms like ScienceDirect and ClinicalKey. The Risk & Business Analytics segment offers data analytics and decision tools to manage risk, which are monetized through subscriptions and transactional models. The Legal segment provides legal research and workflow solutions to law firms and legal professionals, primarily through subscriptions to services like LexisNexis. Finally, the Exhibitions segment generates revenue from organizing trade shows and conferences, earning money through exhibitor fees and attendee ticket sales. Key partnerships with academic institutions, government entities, and businesses further bolster RELX’s revenue streams.

Relx Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 13, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: 3.40%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong financial performance, increased dividends, and growth in key segments like Exhibitions and STM. However, challenges such as print declines and currency impacts were noted. The positive aspects, especially financial metrics and strategic progress, outweigh these challenges.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance in 2024
Delivered strong financial results with underlying revenue growth of 7%, underlying adjusted operating profit growth of 10%, and adjusted earnings per share growth of 9% at constant currency.
Increase in Dividend and Share Buybacks
Proposing a 7% increase in the full year dividend to 63p per share and completed £1 billion of share buybacks, with £1.5 billion announced for 2025.
Exhibitions Segment Growth
Exhibitions delivered underlying revenue growth of 11%, reflecting an improved growth profile and favorable comparisons to the prior year.
STM Article Submission and Publication Growth
Number of articles submitted grew very strongly by over 20%, and the number of articles published grew by 15%.
Reduction in Leverage
Leverage reduced to 1.8x, slightly below the typical range, due to strong cash generation and improving EBITDA.
Negative Updates
Print Decline in STM
STM division faced higher than historical print declines, impacting overall growth rates.
Currency Impact on Revenue and Profit
Total revenue growth at constant currency for the group was 6%, but in sterling, it was 3%, impacted by the relative strength of sterling against the dollar and the euro.
U.S. Government Research Funding Concerns
Concerns about potential impact of U.S. government funding cuts on research, although direct impact on the company is in low single digits.
Company Guidance
In the recent earnings call, Erik Engstrom outlined the company's robust financial performance in 2024, including a 7% growth in underlying revenue and a 10% rise in underlying adjusted operating profit. Adjusted earnings per share increased by 9% at constant currency, and a 7% hike in the full-year dividend was proposed. Key business segments such as Risk experienced 8% revenue growth, while STM and Legal saw respective revenue growths of 4% and 7%. Exhibitions led with an 11% increase in revenue, showcasing improved event portfolios and reduced costs. The company also maintained strong cash conversion at 97% and reduced leverage to 1.8x. Moving forward, continued robust growth in revenue and operating profit is expected, driven by a strategic focus on higher-value analytics and decision tools.

Relx Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Relx shows strong financial health with solid revenue and profit growth, effective cost management, and robust cash flow generation. Despite a reliance on debt, the company's profitability and cash flow mitigate associated risks.
Income Statement
88
Very Positive
Relx demonstrated strong revenue growth of 2.98% over the past year, alongside robust profitability metrics with a gross profit margin of 65% and a net profit margin of 20.5% in 2024. The EBIT margin was 30.3%, indicating effective cost management and operational efficiency. These solid margins reflect a strong market position and pricing power within the industry.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The company maintains a stable balance sheet with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88 and a return on equity (ROE) of 55.5%, reflecting strong profitability relative to shareholder investment. However, the equity ratio stands at 23%, suggesting a higher reliance on debt, which could pose risks if market conditions change.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Relx's cash flow performance is commendable, with a significant free cash flow growth rate of 30.8% over the past year, driven by effective management of capital expenditures. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 1.35, indicating robust cash generation from operations relative to reported earnings. This financial flexibility supports continued investment and debt service.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue9.43B9.16B8.55B7.24B7.11B
Gross Profit6.13B5.95B5.51B4.68B4.62B
EBITDA3.11B3.31B3.06B2.62B2.46B
Net Income1.93B1.78B1.63B1.47B1.22B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets15.13B14.92B15.83B13.86B14.14B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments119.00M155.00M334.00M113.00M88.00M
Total Debt6.54B6.50B6.73B6.17B7.12B
Total Liabilities11.63B11.48B12.07B10.63B12.04B
Stockholders Equity3.48B3.46B3.78B3.23B2.10B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.59B1.98B1.97B1.68B1.23B
Operating Cash Flow2.61B2.46B2.40B2.02B1.60B
Investing Cash Flow-575.00M-569.00M-859.00M-384.00M-1.17B
Financing Cash Flow-2.06B-2.06B-1.33B-1.61B-474.00M

Relx Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price52.64
Price Trends
50DMA
53.64
Negative
100DMA
51.32
Positive
200DMA
49.06
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.01
Negative
RSI
44.49
Neutral
STOCH
67.55
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For RELX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 52.64 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 53.23, below the 50-day MA of 53.64, and above the 200-day MA of 49.06, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.01 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 44.49 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 67.55 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for RELX.

Relx Risk Analysis

Relx disclosed 17 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Relx reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Relx Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
NYNYT
76
Outperform
$9.19B30.7416.68%1.28%6.85%21.26%
WLWLY
74
Outperform
$2.33B28.3511.28%3.24%-10.43%
73
Outperform
$98.05B40.7056.34%2.12%5.86%13.13%
PSPSO
72
Outperform
$9.58B18.3310.99%2.84%-0.59%24.06%
WMWM
72
Outperform
$89.89B33.6934.01%1.48%10.77%8.38%
66
Neutral
$578.75M36.391.92%3.68%-3.10%-58.47%
61
Neutral
C$6.52B9.253.44%2.88%6.99%-11.09%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
RELX
Relx
52.64
7.13
15.67%
WLY
John Wiley Sons Cl A
43.40
1.08
2.55%
NYT
New York Times
56.54
4.84
9.36%
PSO
Pearson
14.74
2.13
16.89%
SCHL
Scholastic
21.93
-11.71
-34.81%
WM
Waste Management
223.39
16.01
7.72%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jul 03, 2025