RELX vs IHS

For growth investors, RELX Plc (RELX) is the stronger pick with 3.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 6% for IHS Holding Limited (IHS). IHS Holding Limited (IHS) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (8. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate RELX Plc (RELX) a "Buy" — based on 7 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, IHS Holding Limited (IHS) is the cheapest at 19.

6x versus RELX Plc at 24. 4x. On forward P/E, IHS Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 8. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, RELX Plc (RELX) delivered a total return of +39.

6%, compared to -51. 6% for IHS Holding Limited (IHS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RELX returned +121. 7% versus IHS's -51. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), RELX Plc (RELX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

44β versus IHS Holding Limited's 0. 92β — meaning IHS is approximately 111% more volatile than RELX relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), RELX Plc (RELX) is pulling ahead at 3.

0% versus -7. 6% for IHS Holding Limited (IHS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IHS Holding Limited grew EPS 108. 6% year-over-year, compared to 9. 6% for RELX Plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, RELX leads at 9. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

RELX Plc (RELX) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

5% net margin versus 9. 1% for IHS Holding Limited — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RELX leads at 30. 3% versus 16. 8% for IHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RELX leads at 65. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, IHS Holding Limited (IHS) trades at 8.

7x forward P/E versus 24. 1x for RELX Plc — 15. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IHS: 3. 2% to $8. 50.

In this comparison, RELX (2.

4% yield) pays a dividend. IHS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, RELX Plc (RELX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

44), 2. 4% yield, +121. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RELX: +121. 7%, IHS: -51. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

RELX pays a dividend while IHS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.