Upside case
Bull case
$70+124.8%
RELX would need investors to value it at roughly 50x earnings — about 28x more generous than today's 22x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Analysis OverviewBuyUpdated Jun 18, 2026
RELX Plc (RELX) Stock Analysis
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Analyst consensus
Buy
Covering
7
analysts
5 bullish · 0 bearish · 7 covering RELX
Strong Buy
0
Buy
5
Hold
2
Sell
0
Strong Sell
0
Consensus Target
$26
-16.6% vs today
Scenario Range
$34 – $70
Model bear to bull value window
Coverage
7
Published analyst ratings
Valuation Context
22.0x
Forward P/E · Market cap $56.4B
RELX price targets
Three scenarios for where RELX stock could go
Current
~$31
Confidence
36 / 100
Updated
Jun 18, 2026
Where we are now
Current · $31
Bear
$34
Base
$53
Bull
$70
Market caseClosest to today
Base case
$53+70.6%
At 38x on FY1 earnings, the base case reflects a reasonable but not stretched valuation. It prices in continued growth without assuming an exceptional setup.
Stress case
Bear case
$34+7.5%
The bear case assumes sentiment or fundamentals disappoint enough to push RELX down roughly 7% from the current price.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.
RELX Plc
RELX · NYSECommunication ServicesPublishingDecember year-end
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers across multiple sectors. It generates revenue through four main segments: Risk (30%), Scientific/Technical/Medical (30%), Legal (25%), and Exhibitions (15%), primarily via subscription-based access to its proprietary databases and analytics platforms. The company's moat lies in its massive, hard-to-replicate datasets — accumulated over decades — and the deep integration of its tools into professional workflows, creating high switching costs.
Market Cap
$56.4B
Revenue TTM
$18.8B
Net Income TTM
$3.8B
Net Margin
20.3%
RELX Revenue and Earnings Performance
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
EPS Beat Rate
9%Exceptional
12 quarters tracked
Revenue Beat Rate
36%Exceptional
vs consensus estimates
Avg EPS Surprise
-11.1%
above Street consensus
Beat / Miss Record
BeatMissLeft = EPS · Right = Revenue
Q4 2024
Q1 2025
Q3 2025
Q1 2026
Last 4 Quarters
EPS beats: 1 of 4Q4 2024
EPS
$0.66/$0.77
Revenue
$5.9B/$6.1B
Q1 2025
EPS
$0.64/$0.80
Revenue
$6.0B/$6.5B
Q3 2025
EPS
$0.72/$0.56
Revenue
$6.5B/$6.5B
Q1 2026
EPS
$0.79/$0.85
Revenue
$6.6B/$6.7B
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2024 | $0.66/$0.77 | -14.5% | $5.9B/$6.1B | -4.0% |
| Q1 2025 | $0.64/$0.80 | -19.1% | $6.0B/$6.5B | -7.0% |
| Q3 2025 | $0.72/$0.56 | +28.1% | $6.5B/$6.5B | +0.1% |
| Q1 2026 | $0.79/$0.85 | -6.7% | $6.6B/$6.7B | -1.2% |
FY1–FY2 Estimates
Revenue Outlook
FY1
$19.6B
+4.1% YoY
FY2
$20.1B
+2.2% YoY
EPS Outlook
FY1
$2.11
+2.1% YoY
FY2
$2.18
+3.2% YoY
Trailing FCF (TTM)$5.0B
FCF Margin: 26.7%
Next Earnings
July 23, 2026
Expected EPS
$0.90
Expected Revenue
$6.7B
RELX beat EPS estimates in 1 of 4 tracked quarters. Mixed delivery makes the upcoming report a key data point for re-rating.
RELX Revenue Breakdown by Segment
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest disclosure
FY 2024
Total disclosed revenue $9.4B
Product Mix
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
Electronic
82.9%
+2.6% YoY
Tap, hover, or focus a slice to inspect segment detail.
Geographic Mix
Latest annual revenue by reported region
North America
58.2%
+2.0% YoY
Tap, hover, or focus a slice to inspect segment detail.
Electronic is the largest disclosed segment at 82.9% of FY 2024 revenue, up 2.6% YoY.
North America is the largest reported region at 58.2%, up 2.0% YoY.
RELX Valuation Snapshot
Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Relative Value Signal
Slightly cheap versus peers
Fair value est. $36 — implies +14.7% from today's price.
Upside to Fair Value
14.7%
potential upside
Deep DiscountFair ValueVery Expensive
vs S&P 500 Trailing P/E
RELX
22.8x
vs
S&P 500
24.4x
7% discount
vs Communication Services Trailing P/E
RELX
22.8x
vs
Communication Services
15.3x
+49% premium
vs RELX 5Y Avg P/E
Today
22.8x
vs
5Y Average
40.2x
43% discount
Forward PE
22.0x
S&P 500
18.8x
+17%
Communication Services
11.3x
+95%
5Y Avg
—
—
Trailing PE
22.8x
S&P 500
24.4x
-7%
Communication Services
15.3x
+49%
5Y Avg
40.2x
-43%
PEG Ratio
3.80x
S&P 500
1.66x
+129%
Communication Services
0.64x
+491%
5Y Avg
—
—
EV/EBITDA
15.5x
S&P 500
15.2x
+2%
Communication Services
9.6x
+61%
5Y Avg
24.4x
-37%
Price/FCF
16.4x
S&P 500
20.7x
-21%
Communication Services
11.4x
+44%
5Y Avg
34.9x
-53%
Price/Sales
4.5x
S&P 500
3.1x
+45%
Communication Services
1.0x
+341%
5Y Avg
7.8x
-42%
Dividend Yield
2.55%
S&P 500
1.91%
+33%
Communication Services
3.43%
-26%
5Y Avg
1.57%
+62%
| Metric | RELX | S&P 500 | Communication Services | 5Y Avg RELX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 22.0x | 18.8x+17% | 11.3x+95% | — |
| Trailing PE | 22.8x | 24.4x | 15.3x+49% | 40.2x-43% |
| PEG Ratio | 3.80x | 1.66x+129% | 0.64x+491% | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 15.5x | 15.2x | 9.6x+61% | 24.4x-37% |
| Price/FCF | 16.4x | 20.7x-21% | 11.4x+44% | 34.9x-53% |
| Price/Sales | 4.5x | 3.1x+45% | 1.0x+341% | 7.8x-42% |
| Dividend Yield | 2.55% | 1.91% | 3.43% | 1.57% |
RELX trades above S&P 500 benchmarks on 3 of 6 measured multiples — is elevated on some multiples, but competitive on others — a mixed valuation picture.
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolRELX Financial Health
Verdict
Exceptional
RELX generates $5.0B in free cash flow at a 26.7% margin — 21.8% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 4.9% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Cash Engine
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
Revenue (TTM)
Trailing-twelve-month sales base
$18.8B
Revenue Growth
TTM vs prior year
+11.4%
Gross Margin
Gross profit as a share of revenue
64.7%
Operating Margin
Operating income divided by revenue
30.4%
Net Margin
Net income divided by revenue
20.3%
EPS (TTM)
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months
$2.07
Free Cash Flow (TTM)
Cash generation after capex
$5.0B
FCF Margin
FCF as share of revenue — the primary cash quality signal
26.7%
Capital Quality
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
ROIC
Return on invested capital — primary competitive quality signal
21.8%
ROA
Return on assets, trailing twelve months
26.6%
Cash & Equivalents
Liquid assets on the balance sheet
$119M
Net Debt
Total debt minus cash
$6.4B
Debt Serviceability
Net debt as a multiple of annual free cash flow
1.3× FCF
~1.3 years to full repayment at current FCF run-rate
ROE *
Return on equity, trailing twelve months
174.0%
* Elevated by buyback-compressed equity — compare ROIC (21.8%) for an undistorted picture of capital efficiency.
Shareholder Returns
How capital is returned to owners
Total shareholder yield
4.9%
Dividend
2.5%
Buyback
2.4%
Share Repurchases
Trailing buyback outflow — dollar magnitude of capital returned
$1.0B
Dividend / Share
Annualized trailing dividend per share
$0.60
Payout Ratio
Share of earnings distributed as dividends
58.0%
Shares Outstanding
Declining as buybacks retire shares
1.8B
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt). ROE marked * where buyback-compressed equity base may inflate the figure.
Open full ratios pageRELX Stock Risk Factors
Key factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated June 17, 2026
Medium
Valuation downside risk
Wall Street consensus price target of $26.00 implies a potential downside of -20.7% from current trading levels.
Medium
Growth slowdown risk
Bear case involves failure to innovate, leading to market share loss and growth slowing to +3-4%.
Lower
AI adoption uncertainty
Despite strong growth prospects, reliance on AI-embedded products carries execution risks if adoption lags.
Lower
Analyst target divergence
Discrepancy between AI model forecasts ($31.85 target) and analyst consensus ($50) introduces uncertainty.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Why RELX Stock Could Outperform
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated June 17, 2026
Buy rating and upside potential
RELX has a Buy rating with a $26 consensus target and -20.7% implied upside, indicating strong bullish sentiment.
Dominant AI-powered platform
The bull case envisions RELX becoming the dominant AI-powered platform in its key verticals, sustaining revenue growth at +7-8%.
Strong long-term growth
RELX's long-term growth prospects are viewed as strong and defensive, with potential for sustained high growth rates.
Innovation-driven market leadership
Success in innovation could solidify RELX's market leadership, while failure risks growth slowing to +3-4%.
Bullish analyst coverage
Multiple bullish theses on RELX highlight its potential, with shares trading at ~$52, reflecting positive analyst sentiment.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
RELX Stock Price Performance
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Current Price
$31.18
52W Range Position
13%
52-Week Range
Current price plotted between the 52-week low and high.
52-Week Low
$27.57
+13.1% from the low
52-Week High
$54.37
-42.7% from the high
1 Month
-8.19%
3 Month
-7.91%
YTD
-21.7%
1 Year
-40.4%
3Y CAGR
-2.2%
5Y CAGR
+3.2%
10Y CAGR
+5.5%
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
RELX vs Peers
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
Peer Set
Accurate peer set
Forward PE
22.0x
vs 18.2x median
+21% above peer median
Revenue Growth
+4.1%
vs +2.8% median
+46% above peer median
Net Margin
20.3%
vs 19.9% median
+2% above peer median
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
REL RELX RELX Plc | $56.4B | 22.0x | +4.1% | 20.3% | Buy | -16.6% |
TRI TRI Thomson Reuters Corporation | $34.3B | 18.2x | +2.8% | 19.9% | Buy | +75.2% |
WLY WLY John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | $2.5B | 11.1x | +0.0% | 13.2% | Hold | — |
VRS VRSK Verisk Analytics, Inc. | $22.8B | 22.7x | +5.8% | 29.3% | Hold | +30.1% |
IHS IHS IHS Holding Limited | $2.7B | 7.5x | +1.6% | 12.0% | Buy | +4.4% |
SPG SPGI S&P Global Inc. | $121.6B | 20.9x | +6.2% | 30.4% | Buy | +33.4% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
RELX Dividend and Capital Return
RELX returns 4.9% total yield, led by a 2.55% dividend, raised 10 consecutive years. Buybacks add another 2.4%.
Dividend SustainableFCF Well Covered
Total Shareholder Yield
4.9%
Dividend + buyback return per year
Buyback Yield
2.4%
Dividend Yield
2.55%
Payout Ratio
58.0%
How RELX Splits Its Return
Div 2.55%
Buyback 2.4%
Dividend 2.55%Buybacks 2.4%
Dividend Profile
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
Dividend / Share
Trailing annualized cash dividend
$0.60
Growth Streak
Consecutive years of dividend increases
10Y
3Y Div CAGR
8.8%
5Y Div CAGR
8.0%
Ex-Dividend Date
—
Payment Cadence
Semi-Annual
2 payments over the last 12 months
Buyback Engine
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
Repurchases (TTM)
Cash used for buybacks in the latest trailing period
$1.0B
Estimated Shares Retired
32M
Approx. Share Reduction
1.8%
Shares Outstanding
Current diluted share count from the screening snapshot
1.8B
At 1.8%/year, buybacks mechanically lift EPS even with flat earnings — each remaining share represents a slightly larger piece of the company.
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.66 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $0.87 | +13.9% | — | — |
| 2024 | $0.76 | +11.0% | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| 2023 | $0.69 | +2.0% | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| 2022 | $0.67 | +0.9% | 1.0% | 2.9% |
FAQ
7 questionsRELX Investor Questions
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
01Is RELX Plc (RELX) stock a buy or sell in 2026?
RELX Plc (RELX) is rated Buy by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 7 analysts covering the stock, 5 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 2 rate it Hold, and 0 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $26, implying -16.6% from the current price of $31. The bear case scenario is $34 and the bull case is $70.
02What is the RELX stock price target for 2026?
The Wall Street consensus price target for RELX is $26 based on 7 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $28 (-10.2% from today), and the low-end target is $24 (-23.0%). The base case model target is $53.
03Is RELX Plc (RELX) stock overvalued in 2026?
RELX trades at 22.0x times forward earnings. The stock's valuation is broadly in line with the broader market. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals slightly cheap versus peers. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
04What are the main risks for RELX Plc (RELX) stock in 2026?
The primary risks for RELX in 2026 are: (1) Valuation downside risk — Wall Street consensus price target of $26. (2) Growth slowdown risk — Bear case involves failure to innovate, leading to market share loss and growth slowing to +3-4%. (3) AI adoption uncertainty — Despite strong growth prospects, reliance on AI-embedded products carries execution risks if adoption lags. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
05What is RELX Plc's revenue and earnings forecast?
Analyst consensus estimates RELX will report consensus revenue of $19.6B (+4.1% year-over-year) and EPS of $2.11 (+2.1% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $20.1B in revenue.
06When does RELX Plc (RELX) report its next earnings?
RELX Plc is expected to report its next earnings on approximately 2026-07-23. Consensus expects EPS of $0.90 and revenue of $6.7B. Over recent quarters, RELX has beaten EPS estimates 9% of the time.
07How much free cash flow does RELX Plc generate?
RELX Plc (RELX) generated $5.0B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 26.7%. RELX returns capital to shareholders through dividends (2.5% yield) and share repurchases ($1.0B TTM).