Relx (NYSE:RELX) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $44.55 EPS

Key Points

• RELX reported strong first-half results, with underlying revenue up 7%, adjusted operating profit up 9%, and adjusted EPS up 11% at constant currency. Management said momentum remains positive across all four business areas and expects another year of strong growth.
• Risk and Legal were standout segments, as Risk posted 8% underlying revenue growth and 10% operating profit growth, while Legal revenue rose 10%. AI-enabled products such as LeapSpace and Lexis+ with Protégé were highlighted as key growth drivers.
• Shareholder returns and cash generation remained robust, with 98% cash conversion, a 7% increase in the interim dividend, and GBP 1.75 billion of buybacks completed in the first half. Margins also improved to 35.5%, supporting a solid financial outlook.

Relx (NYSE:RELX - Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The technology company reported $45.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.89 by $44.55, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $3.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.54 billion.

Here are the key takeaways from Relx's conference call:

• The group posted strong first-half results, with underlying revenue up 7%, adjusted operating profit up 9%, and adjusted EPS up 11% at constant currency. Management said momentum remains positive across all four business areas and expects another year of strong growth.
• Risk continued to perform well, with 8% underlying revenue growth and 10% operating profit growth, driven by AI-enabled analytics and decision tools. The company expects the segment to sustain strong long-term growth.
• STM and Legal both stepped up growth, with STM revenue up 6% and Legal revenue up 10%, while profit growth outpaced revenue in each division. Management highlighted AI-enabled products such as LeapSpace and Lexis+ with Protégé as key growth drivers.
• Exhibitions delivered 6% revenue growth, but profit growth was held back by event cycling, timing shifts, and some travel disruption. Management also noted uncertainty around remaining Middle East events, though they represent a small portion of group revenue.
• Cash generation and shareholder returns remained strong, with 98% cash conversion, interim dividend up 7%, and GBP 1.75 billion of buybacks completed in the first half. Margin also improved 70 basis points to 35.5%, and leverage stayed within the company’s typical target range.

Relx Stock Performance

Shares of RELX traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $32.83. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,969,576 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,365,979. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $32.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $34.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.49. Relx has a fifty-two week low of $27.57 and a fifty-two week high of $54.02.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citigroup upgraded shares of Relx from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Relx from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Morgan Stanley lowered Relx from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Relx in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Relx from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, May 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Relx currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

Institutional Trading of Relx

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RELX. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Relx by 3,040.0% in the fourth quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 785 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 760 shares in the last quarter. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Relx during the 3rd quarter worth $72,000. Horizon Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Relx by 23.0% during the 3rd quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 1,517 shares of the technology company's stock worth $72,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Relx by 66.4% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 2,410 shares of the technology company's stock worth $97,000 after acquiring an additional 962 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new position in shares of Relx in the 4th quarter worth $114,000. 15.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Relx News

Here are the key news stories impacting Relx this week:

• Positive Sentiment: RELX said first-half revenue and adjusted operating profit increased, supported by stronger demand for its analytics and decision-making tools, and margins improved year over year. RELX rises as AI helps with new products and costs
• Positive Sentiment: The company increased earnings guidance and raised its dividend, signaling confidence in cash generation and the outlook for the business. RELX increases earnings and dividend as analytics and AI drive first-half growth
• Positive Sentiment: Growth accelerated in RELX’s scientific and legal divisions, which helped reassure investors worried that AI companies could pressure the company’s information and analytics franchise. RELX's growth accelerates in scientific and legal units
• Neutral Sentiment: RELX’s CFO said the company’s AI products rely on its trusted data set, reinforcing the quality of its proprietary content but not changing the near-term financial picture. RELX CFO: Our AI products check back on our trusted data set
• Neutral Sentiment: RELX also released a U.S. home insurance trends report through LexisNexis Risk Solutions, which is informative for the business but not a major stock driver on its own. 2026 LexisNexis U.S. Home Insurance Trends Report
• Negative Sentiment: One item highlighted ongoing investor concern that AI competition could weigh on parts of RELX’s business, though the latest results showed accelerating growth in key divisions. RELX's growth accelerates in scientific and legal units

About Relx

RELX plc is a global provider of information, analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The company supplies content, data and analytical services that support decision-making across scientific, technical and medical research, legal and regulatory practice, and risk and business analytics. RELX's offerings are largely delivered via digital platforms and subscription services designed for institutions, corporations and professionals who require specialized, high-value information and workflow solutions.

RELX operates through distinct business lines that include Elsevier, which provides scientific, technical and medical journals, books and online platforms such as research and discovery tools; Legal and Professional services, which deliver legal, regulatory and compliance content and workflow solutions; Risk & Business Analytics, which offers data, analytics and decision tools for insurance, banking, corporate and government risk assessment; and Exhibitions, which organizes industry trade shows and events.

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