RELX vs SPGI

For growth investors, S&P Global Inc.

(SPGI) is the stronger pick with 7. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for RELX Plc (RELX). RELX Plc (RELX) offers the better valuation at 24. 4x trailing P/E (24. 1x 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, RELX Plc (RELX) is the cheapest at 24.

4x versus S&P Global Inc. at 29. 2x. On forward P/E, S&P Global Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: S&P Global Inc. wins at 2. 51x versus RELX Plc's 4. 02x.

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

6%, compared to +14. 2% for S&P Global Inc. (SPGI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPGI returned +337. 1% versus RELX's +121. 7%. 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 S&P Global Inc. 's 0. 58β — meaning SPGI is approximately 33% more volatile than RELX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, S&P Global Inc. (SPGI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 187% for RELX Plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), S&P Global Inc.

(SPGI) is pulling ahead at 7. 9% versus 3. 0% for RELX Plc (RELX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: S&P Global Inc. grew EPS 18. 7% year-over-year, compared to 9. 6% for RELX Plc. 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.

S&P Global Inc.

(SPGI) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 2% net margin versus 20. 5% for RELX Plc — meaning it keeps 29. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SPGI leads at 42. 2% versus 30. 3% for RELX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPGI leads at 70. 2%, 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.

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, S&P Global Inc. (SPGI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 51x versus RELX Plc's 4. 02x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, S&P Global Inc. (SPGI) trades at 21. 8x forward P/E versus 24. 1x for RELX Plc — 2. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPGI: 27. 9% to $548. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

RELX Plc (RELX) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 0. 9% for S&P Global Inc. (SPGI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, S&P Global Inc.

(SPGI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 58), 0. 9% yield, +337. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SPGI: +337. 1%, RELX: +121. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (RELX (Communication Services) and SPGI (Financial Services)), 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.