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RELX vs ORCL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Infrastructure
RELX vs ORCL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $64.66B | $557.72B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $18.84B | $64.08B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3.82B | $16.21B |
| Gross Margin | 64.7% | 66.4% |
| Operating Margin | 30.4% | 30.8% |
| Forward P/E | 25.2x | 25.9x |
| Total Debt | $6.54B | $104.10B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $119M | $10.79B |
RELX vs ORCL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| RELX Plc (RELX) | 100 | 153.5 | +53.5% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 360.8 | +260.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RELX vs ORCL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
RELX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 0.44, yield 2.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.44, current ratio 0.52x
- Beta 0.44, yield 2.3%, current ratio 0.52x
ORCL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.4%, EPS growth 17.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.6%
- 423.1% 10Y total return vs RELX's 132.2%
- PEG 3.65 vs RELX's 4.21
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.4% revenue growth vs RELX's 3.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (25.2x vs 25.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 25.3% margin vs RELX's 20.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.44 vs ORCL's 1.59, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.3% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs ORCL's 0.9% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +32.7% vs RELX's -33.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 26.6% ROA vs ORCL's 8.1%, ROIC 21.8% vs 12.8% |
RELX vs ORCL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
RELX vs ORCL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ORCL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ORCL is the larger business by revenue, generating $64.1B annually — 3.4x RELX's $18.8B. ORCL is the more profitable business, keeping 25.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RELX's 20.3%. On growth, ORCL holds the edge at +21.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $18.8B | $64.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.0B | $26.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.8B | $16.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5.0B | -$24.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +64.7% | +66.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +30.4% | +30.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.3% | +25.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +26.7% | -38.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.2% | +21.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.9% | +24.5% |
Valuation Metrics
RELX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.5x trailing earnings, RELX trades at a 43% valuation discount to ORCL's 44.7x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), RELX offers better value at 4.26x vs ORCL's 6.30x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $64.7B | $557.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $73.4B | $651.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.54x | 44.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.22x | 25.92x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.26x | 6.30x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.13x | 27.30x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.04x | 9.72x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 14.09x | 26.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.38x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
RELX leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RELX delivers a 174.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $174 in annual profit, vs $56 for ORCL. RELX carries lower financial leverage with a 1.87x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RELX scores 9/9 vs ORCL's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +174.0% | +56.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +26.6% | +8.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +21.8% | +12.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.4% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.87x | 4.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.4B | $93.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $119M | $10.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.5B | $104.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.39x | 5.44x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ORCL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth $25,324 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,719 for RELX. Over the past 12 months, ORCL leads with a +32.7% total return vs RELX's -33.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ORCL at 27.2% vs RELX's 7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.2% | -0.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -33.3% | +32.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.3% | +105.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.2% | +153.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +132.2% | +423.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.2% | +27.2% |
Risk & Volatility
RELX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RELX is the less volatile stock with a 0.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ORCL's 1.59 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RELX currently trades 63.5% from its 52-week high vs ORCL's 56.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.44x | 1.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $56.33 | $345.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $27.57 | $134.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +63.5% | +56.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.4 | 64.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.4M | 26.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — RELX and ORCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RELX as "Buy" and ORCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 32.6% upside for ORCL (target: $257) vs -27.3% for RELX (target: $26). For income investors, RELX offers the higher dividend yield at 2.27% vs ORCL's 0.85%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.00 | $257.19 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 86 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.3% | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 14 | 18 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $1.65 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.1% | +0.3% |
RELX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ORCL leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
RELX vs ORCL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RELX or ORCL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the stronger pick with 8.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for RELX Plc (RELX). RELX Plc (RELX) offers the better valuation at 25. 5x trailing P/E (25. 2x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — RELX or ORCL?
On trailing P/E, RELX Plc (RELX) is the cheapest at 25.
5x versus Oracle Corporation at 44. 7x. On forward P/E, RELX Plc is actually cheaper at 25. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Oracle Corporation wins at 3. 65x versus RELX Plc's 4. 21x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RELX or ORCL?
Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +153.
2%, compared to +47. 2% for RELX Plc (RELX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORCL returned +423. 1% versus RELX's +132. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — RELX or ORCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), RELX Plc (RELX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
44β versus Oracle Corporation's 1. 59β — meaning ORCL is approximately 265% more volatile than RELX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, RELX Plc (RELX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 187% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RELX or ORCL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is pulling ahead at 8.
4% versus 3. 0% for RELX Plc (RELX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Oracle Corporation grew EPS 17. 0% year-over-year, compared to 9. 6% for RELX Plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, ORCL leads at 10. 6% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — RELX or ORCL?
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more profitable company, earning 21.
7% net margin versus 20. 5% for RELX Plc — meaning it keeps 21. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORCL leads at 30. 8% versus 30. 3% for RELX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70. 5%, 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.
07Is RELX or ORCL more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 65x versus RELX Plc's 4. 21x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, RELX Plc (RELX) trades at 25. 2x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Oracle Corporation — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORCL: 32. 6% to $257. 19.
08Which pays a better dividend — RELX or ORCL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
RELX Plc (RELX) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 9% for Oracle Corporation (ORCL).
09Is RELX or ORCL better for a retirement portfolio?
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. 3% yield, +132. 2% 10Y return). Oracle Corporation (ORCL) carries a higher beta of 1. 59 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RELX: +132. 2%, ORCL: +423. 1%), 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.
10What are the main differences between RELX and ORCL?
These companies operate in different sectors (RELX (Communication Services) and ORCL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 12%
- Dividend Yield > 0.9%
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