Relative Intelligence · Business Services
How RELX compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on RELX alone. It places RELX (RELX Plc) against 17 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where RELX stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: RELX's full trading record, from October 1994 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- Right nowThe slide is RELX's own: it is 28.3% below its high, against 1.3% for the S&P 500. On the flip side, over the past 3 months, RELX rose 16.4% against 3.9% for the S&P 500 and 3.2% for the Nasdaq 100. At a glance ↓
- Stock or market?RELX held up far better than its industry: it rose 16.4% over the past 3 months while the business services ETF XLI (State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF) fell 6.1%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. RELX rose 17.9% last month as the S&P 500 fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq 100 fell 3.2%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsRELX has gone against the market, falling 13.9% over the past year while the S&P 500 rose 15.8%. The same gap shows up over 3 years (19.4% against 89.3%). RELX led its business services peers in 2023, then fell behind SPGI (S&P Global) and MCO (Moody's) in 2025. By year ↓
- Long termRELX turned $10,000 into $26,700 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashIn the 2022 bear market, RELX held up better than SPGI (S&P Global), MCO and MSCI; only TRI (Thomson Reuters) and EXLS fell less. Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationRELX is some diversification, but not a hedge: a correlation of 0.53 with the S&P 500 over 5 years and 0.52 with the total US market, more closely than 80% of stocks worth at least $300 million. When the S&P 500 had a down month, RELX usually fell with it (17 of 22 months). By year ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- GOOG (Alphabet) earned more for the risk it took than RELX over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 44.6%, against 49.9% for RELX.
- Nearby categories and themes
- PPA (Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF, aerospace & defense) and GD (General Dynamics, aerospace & defense) earned more than RELX with less volatility over the past 5 years. PPA returned 16.3% a year at 18.9% volatility, against 7.0% a year at 24.1%.
- Whole market
- 492 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than RELX with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway).
How much would $10,000 in RELX have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in RELX over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of RELX over the same span and RELX's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
- $10,000 invested in RELX at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $66,625 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of RELX, and MCO finished highest, at $677,855.
Choose a period
From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 670 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of RELX; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- MCO$677,855+6,679% total · +15.6% a year
- CACI$609,098+5,991% total · +15.2% a year
- FDS$529,271+5,193% total · +14.7% a year
- ADBE$386,385+3,764% total · +13.4% a year
- SPGI$384,837+3,748% total · +13.4% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
- RELX$66,625+566% total · +6.8% a year
- IT$65,986+560% total · +6.7% a year
- EFX$56,901+469% total · +6.2% a year
- FORR$10,541+5.4% total · +0.2% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,031 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of RELX; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- GOOG$25,811+158% total · +20.9% a year
- CACI$23,239+132% total · +18.4% a year
- PPA$22,222+122% total · +17.3% a year
- CTAS$21,474+115% total · +16.5% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- EXLS$13,964+39.6% total · +6.9% a year
- MCO$13,345+33.5% total · +5.9% a year
- RELX$12,530+25.3% total · +4.6% a year
- MSCI$9,376−6.2% total · −1.3% a year
- CRM$8,626−13.7% total · −2.9% a year
RELX at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
- RELX is still 28.3% below its all-time high.
- RELX's deepest decline since it began trading in 1994 was 57.1%, from July 2007 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, RELX's best was 2013, when it returned 47.2%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 50.7%. It lost money in ten of those years.
The company
- Market value
- $68B
- Industry
- Specialty Business Services
- Price history from
- October 1994
Returns
- Past 1 year
- −13.9%total return
- Past 3 years
- +19.4%+6.1% a year
- Past 5 years
- +40.0%+7.0% a year
- Past 10 years
- +167%+10.3% a year
- Best calendar year
- +47.2%2013
- Worst calendar year
- −50.7%2008
- Losing years
- 10 of 29full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 24.1%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.40return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −57.1%Jul 2007 to Mar 2009
- From its all-time high
- −28.3%below the peak
RELX against the whole market
Where RELX ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does RELX rank among all stocks?
This section ranks RELX on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how RELX stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- RELX is among the steadier stocks: its price swings rank in the top 9% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top is the calmest.
- RELX's 1-year return ranks in the bottom 25% of the 3,287 stocks worth at least $300 million with 1 year of history.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | RELX | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | −13.9% | 2,471 of 3,287 | bottom 26% |
| 3-year return | +19.4% | 2,032 of 3,017 | bottom 34% |
| 5-year return | +40.0% | 1,210 of 2,893 | top 42% |
| 10-year return | +167% | 1,000 of 2,202 | top 45% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 24.1% | 271 of 2,893 | top 9% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.40 | 1,228 of 2,893 | top 42% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −49.9% | 456 of 2,187 | top 21% |
What has beaten RELX on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). RELX sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than RELX with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- 71 stocks and 421 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than RELX over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 14% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half RELX's swings, DXJ has the best return for its risk: 26.6% a year at 19.1% volatility, 21% less than RELX's 24.1%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.34 against 0.40 for RELX.
- None of RELX's popular alternatives made it, but PPA (aerospace & defense) did: 16.3% a year at 18.9% volatility, 22% less than RELX's 24.1%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to RELX; faint dots are 94 more of the 492 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
- 1 with more than 1.6× RELX's volatility is in the table only
Is there a better investment than RELX?
Investments that beat RELX over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among RELX's popular alternatives, GOOG earned more for the risk it took than RELX over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 44.6%, against 49.9% for RELX.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, PPA (aerospace & defense) and GD (aerospace & defense) earned more than RELX with less volatility over the past 5 years. PPA returned 16.3% a year at 18.9% volatility, against 7.0% a year at 24.1%.
- Across the whole market, 492 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than RELX with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI, VOO and BRK-B.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat RELX over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks RELX's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than RELX follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than RELX's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× RELX's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than RELX's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with RELX?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| RELXRELX Plc · this page | +7.0% | 24.1% | 0.40 | −49.9% | +167% | 1.00 | — | ||
 SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500 | +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +321% | 0.53 | 0.09% | ||
| Popular alternativesbest 3 shownThe investments people most often weigh against RELX. 3 of 17 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 GOOGAlphabet Inc. · Internet Services | Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +19.0% | 32.0% | 0.71 | −44.6% | +752% | 0.19 | — | |
 CRMSalesforce, Inc. · Enterprise Software | Higher return in most periods | −3.2% | 39.4% | 0.12 | −58.7% | +240% | 0.46 | — | |
EXLSExlService Holdings, Inc. · IT Services | Higher return in most periods | +10.6% | 32.6% | 0.47 | −51.3% | +327% | 0.59 | — | |
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Business Services and the categories next to it (IT Services, Aerospace & Defense, Financial Data, Application Software), plus RELX's specific themes. 15 of 86 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
PPAInvesco Aerospace & Defense ETF · Aerospace & Defense | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +16.3% | 18.9% | 0.90 | −43.9% | +344% | 0.39 | 0.58% | |
CACICACI International Inc · Business Services | Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +16.6% | 29.9% | 0.66 | −42.9% | +499% | 0.28 | — | |
 CTASCintas Corporation · Business Services | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +16.5% | 23.1% | 0.78 | −48.4% | +808% | 0.60 | — | |
 LMTLockheed Martin Corporation · Aerospace & Defense | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +11.1% | 24.2% | 0.56 | −36.7% | +204% | 0.03 | — | |
 GDGeneral Dynamics Corporation · Aerospace & Defense | Higher return, lower volatility | +12.9% | 20.8% | 0.69 | −51.6% | +184% | 0.33 | — | |
 ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. · Business Services | Higher return in most periods | +9.0% | 22.9% | 0.49 | −40.8% | +320% | 0.50 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 932 of 3,531 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.32 | — | |
 VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.8% | 16.9% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +324% | 0.53 | 0.03% | |
 BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.41 | — | |
 JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.7% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | +196% | -0.04 | — | |
 VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +12.8% | 22.9% | 0.64 | −36.4% | +429% | 0.57 | — | |
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.13 | 0.48% | |
 QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 · US Large-Cap Growth | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +14.5% | 23.0% | 0.71 | −35.1% | +553% | 0.41 | 0.18% | |
CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +7.7% | 13.3% | 0.63 | −23.8% | +101% | 0.22 | — | |
What these numbers mean for RELX
- Annual return
- RELX returned 7.0% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $14,000. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- RELX's volatility over the past 5 years was 24.1%, 1.4 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, RELX's return lands within 24.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- RELX's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.40, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so RELX earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- RELX's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 49.9%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 49.9% fall takes a 99.7% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, RELX's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.53 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against RELX instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a RELX holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 492 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than RELX with less volatility
Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with RELX | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks | Whole market | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.32 | — |
| 2 | VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +12.8% | 16.9% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +324% | 0.53 | 0.03% |
| 3 | BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance | Whole market | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.41 | — |
| 4 | JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +12.7% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | +196% | -0.04 | — |
| 5 | VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing | Whole market | +12.8% | 22.9% | 0.64 | −36.4% | +429% | 0.57 | — |
| 6 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.13 | 0.48% |
| 7 |  KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages | Whole market | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.26 | — |
| 8 |  VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +12.1% | 13.7% | 0.90 | −36.8% | +235% | 0.45 | 0.03% |
| 9 |  TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks | Whole market | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.30 | — |
| 10 |  CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +15.7% | 20.4% | 0.82 | −42.6% | +248% | 0.31 | — |
| 11 |  SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +9.7% | 14.3% | 0.72 | −33.4% | +252% | 0.36 | 0.06% |
| 12 |  QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Growth | Whole market | +14.6% | 22.9% | 0.71 | −35.0% | — | 0.41 | 0.15% |
| 13 |  CMECME Group Inc. · Capital Markets | Whole market | +11.2% | 20.8% | 0.62 | −37.4% | +319% | 0.35 | — |
| 14 |  RSGRepublic Services, Inc. · Environmental Services | Whole market | +13.9% | 18.5% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +446% | 0.37 | — |
| 15 |  SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF · US Large-Cap Growth | Whole market | +13.1% | 22.4% | 0.67 | −34.5% | +451% | 0.53 | 0.04% |
| 16 |  DYNFiShares U.S. Equity Factor Rotation Active ETF · US Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +14.7% | 17.5% | 0.87 | −34.7% | — | 0.51 | 0.26% |
| 17 |  DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +10.9% | 13.7% | 0.83 | −35.1% | +267% | 0.51 | 0.08% |
| 18 |  QUALiShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +11.4% | 17.3% | 0.71 | −34.1% | +293% | 0.54 | 0.15% |
| 19 |  XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity | Whole market | +8.4% | 15.3% | 0.60 | −28.4% | +202% | 0.34 | 0.08% |
| 20 | SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF · US Momentum Equity | Whole market | +18.7% | 20.8% | 0.93 | −30.9% | +499% | 0.39 | 0.13% |
| 21 | AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +14.0% | 16.9% | 0.86 | −19.5% | — | 0.42 | 0.15% |
| 22 | PVALPutnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +16.1% | 15.1% | 1.07 | −41.3% | — | 0.50 | 0.56% |
| 23 | DGXQuest Diagnostics Incorporated · Medical Diagnostics | Whole market | +12.3% | 22.5% | 0.63 | −36.6% | +243% | 0.29 | — |
| 24 | COWZPacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +11.4% | 17.7% | 0.70 | −38.7% | — | 0.43 | 0.49% |
| 25 | ESGUiShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF · US ESG Equity | Whole market | +11.5% | 17.4% | 0.72 | −33.9% | — | 0.53 | 0.15% |
| 26 | RWLInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +13.7% | 14.4% | 0.97 | −36.1% | +287% | 0.53 | 0.39% |
| 27 | IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +15.7% | 17.2% | 0.94 | −31.4% | +361% | 0.52 | 0.40% |
| 28 | JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.54 | 0.12% |
| 29 | VLUEiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +15.9% | 18.4% | 0.90 | −39.5% | +286% | 0.27 | 0.15% |
| 30 | MOATVanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +9.1% | 18.4% | 0.57 | −33.3% | +276% | 0.52 | 0.46% |
| 31 | THGThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +14.4% | 22.9% | 0.70 | −40.1% | +291% | 0.22 | — |
| 32 | PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF · Broad Commodities | Whole market | +11.7% | 19.3% | 0.67 | −40.7% | +153% | 0.07 | 0.74% |
| 33 | QYLDGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF · Equity Income | Whole market | +8.4% | 15.0% | 0.62 | −24.7% | +156% | 0.40 | 0.60% |
| 34 | DBMFiMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF · Alternatives | Whole market | +9.8% | 12.4% | 0.82 | −20.4% | — | -0.28 | 0.85% |
| 35 | USMCPrincipal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.1% | 16.4% | 0.89 | −30.0% | — | 0.54 | 0.12% |
| 36 | TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund · Technology Equity | Whole market | +16.2% | 21.3% | 0.81 | −32.0% | +388% | 0.43 | 0.50% |
| 37 |  MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +23.5% | 18.8% | 1.22 | −75.2% | +350% | 0.26 | — |
| 38 | IWXiShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +12.7% | 13.8% | 0.94 | −35.8% | +221% | 0.49 | 0.20% |
| 39 | FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Alternatives | Whole market | +12.9% | 15.6% | 0.86 | −35.9% | +139% | 0.09 | 0.98% |
| 40 | OMFLInvesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF · US Multifactor Equity | Whole market | +9.0% | 16.4% | 0.61 | −33.2% | — | 0.50 | 0.29% |
| 41 | PTLCPacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.5% | 11.8% | 0.83 | −26.6% | +188% | 0.30 | 0.60% |
| 42 | WTVWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.4% | 17.0% | 0.83 | −42.2% | +303% | 0.47 | 0.12% |
| 43 | EQWLInvesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +11.6% | 15.0% | 0.81 | −34.3% | +291% | 0.52 | 0.30% |
| 44 | DIVBiShares Core Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +13.9% | 15.4% | 0.93 | −36.9% | — | 0.49 | 0.05% |
| 45 | FOCTFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October · Multi-Asset | Whole market | +9.5% | 11.2% | 0.88 | −14.1% | — | 0.49 | 0.85% |
| 46 | FVFirst Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.7% | 21.1% | 0.55 | −34.0% | +247% | 0.36 | 0.30% |
| 47 | FBTFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund · Healthcare | Whole market | +10.8% | 22.2% | 0.58 | −33.3% | +203% | 0.11 | 0.55% |
| 48 | DSTLDistillate U.S. Fundamental Stability & Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +11.3% | 16.1% | 0.75 | −33.1% | — | 0.58 | 0.39% |
| 49 | CHCOCity Holding Company · Banks - Regional | Whole market | +15.9% | 22.8% | 0.77 | −32.3% | +286% | 0.29 | — |
| 50 | FDLOFidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +9.8% | 13.0% | 0.79 | −34.4% | +249% | 0.61 | 0.15% |
| 51 | SDOGALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +10.3% | 15.2% | 0.72 | −43.6% | +158% | 0.38 | 0.36% |
| 52 | VFMFVanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.3% | 17.6% | 0.85 | −41.3% | — | 0.46 | 0.18% |
| 53 | COMTiShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF · Commodities | Whole market | +13.1% | 21.1% | 0.69 | −39.2% | +160% | 0.06 | 0.49% |
| 54 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Healthcare | Whole market | +11.6% | 15.8% | 0.78 | −29.7% | +153% | 0.23 | 0.36% |
| 55 | PTNQPacer Trendpilot 100 ETF · Technology | Whole market | +9.7% | 14.1% | 0.73 | −28.1% | +305% | 0.23 | 0.65% |
| 56 | FTQIFirst Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +11.5% | 14.8% | 0.82 | −19.4% | +121% | 0.43 | 0.75% |
| 57 | HEWJiShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF · International | Whole market | +20.8% | 19.4% | 1.08 | −31.5% | +346% | 0.19 | 1.02% |
| 58 | HLALWahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +14.0% | 18.0% | 0.82 | −33.6% | — | 0.44 | 0.50% |
| 59 | JVALJPMorgan U.S. Value Factor ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +12.0% | 17.2% | 0.75 | −40.4% | — | 0.43 | 0.12% |
| 60 | ROUSHartford Multifactor US Equity ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +12.3% | 14.4% | 0.88 | −35.5% | +238% | 0.50 | 0.19% |
| 61 | IDHQInvesco S&P International Developed Quality ETF · International | Whole market | +10.0% | 17.9% | 0.63 | −33.6% | +183% | 0.49 | 0.29% |
| 62 | FDRRFidelity Dividend ETF for Rising Rates · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +12.6% | 15.0% | 0.87 | −36.5% | +265% | 0.49 | 0.15% |
| 63 | DJPiPath Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return(SM) ETN · Commodities | Whole market | +11.2% | 18.9% | 0.66 | −38.4% | +120% | 0.08 | 0.70% |
| 64 | SIXAETC 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +12.8% | 12.7% | 1.01 | −18.4% | — | 0.48 | 0.31% |
| 65 | QDEFNorthern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +12.7% | 13.7% | 0.94 | −35.7% | +228% | 0.54 | 0.40% |
| 66 | SFYSoFi Select 500 ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.9% | 19.4% | 0.77 | −33.3% | — | 0.48 | 0.19% |
| 67 | VSLUApplied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.7% | 16.2% | 0.88 | −23.8% | — | 0.55 | 0.49% |
| 68 | NXTGFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF · Technology | Whole market | +16.2% | 19.1% | 0.89 | −33.6% | +330% | 0.32 | 0.70% |
| 69 | DJDInvesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +11.8% | 13.3% | 0.91 | −34.7% | +227% | 0.39 | 0.07% |
| 70 | QQHHCM Defender 100 Index ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +10.5% | 22.3% | 0.56 | −41.9% | — | 0.26 | 0.98% |
| 71 | PJPInvesco Pharmaceuticals ETF · Healthcare | Whole market | +11.2% | 16.6% | 0.72 | −34.0% | +135% | 0.10 | 0.58% |
| 72 | KIEState Street SPDR S&P Insurance ETF · Financials | Whole market | +10.8% | 18.5% | 0.65 | −44.3% | +203% | 0.45 | 0.35% |
| 73 | EBFEnnis, Inc. · Specialty Business Services | Whole market | +11.2% | 21.4% | 0.60 | −35.4% | +163% | 0.04 | — |
| 74 |  WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail | Whole market | +20.8% | 22.6% | 0.96 | −25.7% | +508% | 0.36 | — |
| 75 |  MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco | Whole market | +17.8% | 21.4% | 0.88 | −53.7% | +140% | 0.18 | — |
| 76 |  TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +22.4% | 22.3% | 1.02 | −46.3% | +347% | 0.33 | — |
| 77 |  BMOBank of Montreal · Banks | Whole market | +13.6% | 21.4% | 0.71 | −51.0% | +295% | 0.25 | — |
| 78 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.34 | 0.40% |
| 79 |  BNSThe Bank of Nova Scotia · Banks | Whole market | +12.9% | 19.9% | 0.71 | −46.9% | +187% | 0.34 | — |
| 80 |  VXUSVanguard Total International Stock ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +8.2% | 16.4% | 0.57 | −36.0% | +140% | 0.44 | 0.05% |
| 81 |  NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +17.1% | 20.7% | 0.87 | −26.8% | +226% | 0.27 | — |
| 82 |  TAKTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +11.9% | 19.4% | 0.68 | −54.4% | +30.4% | 0.03 | — |
| 83 |  VEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF · Developed International Equity | Whole market | +9.3% | 16.9% | 0.61 | −35.8% | +153% | 0.47 | 0.03% |
| 84 |  TJXThe TJX Companies, Inc. · Specialty Retail | Whole market | +19.9% | 22.3% | 0.93 | −42.5% | +361% | 0.29 | — |
| 85 | SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Bonds | Whole market | +20.6% | 18.4% | 1.12 | −45.7% | — | 0.10 | 0.80% |
| 86 |  GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold | Whole market | +17.7% | 18.9% | 0.96 | −26.4% | +213% | 0.15 | 0.40% |
| 87 |  SLFSun Life Financial Inc. · Life Insurance | Whole market | +11.7% | 19.4% | 0.67 | −50.8% | +255% | 0.47 | — |
| 88 |  LINLinde plc · Chemicals | Whole market | +11.5% | 20.9% | 0.63 | −32.6% | +394% | 0.41 | — |
| 89 | PBAPembina Pipeline Corporation · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +13.8% | 21.5% | 0.71 | −70.9% | +172% | 0.38 | — |
| 90 |  CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution | Whole market | +24.2% | 22.8% | 1.07 | −32.4% | +406% | 0.44 | — |
| 91 |  VTVanguard Total World Stock ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +10.3% | 16.2% | 0.69 | −34.2% | +223% | 0.52 | 0.06% |
| 92 |  SOThe Southern Company · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +11.3% | 18.8% | 0.67 | −38.4% | +170% | 0.24 | — |
| 93 |  ENBEnbridge Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +9.1% | 18.9% | 0.56 | −44.1% | +103% | 0.35 | — |
| 94 | PJULInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +10.5% | 8.6% | 1.20 | −18.2% | — | 0.51 | 0.79% |
| 95 |  WMWaste Management, Inc. · Environmental Services | Whole market | +9.3% | 19.2% | 0.56 | −30.1% | +344% | 0.40 | — |
| 96 |  NGGNational Grid plc · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +11.8% | 22.6% | 0.61 | −39.2% | +118% | 0.47 | — |
| 97 |  ETREntergy Corporation · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +19.2% | 22.4% | 0.90 | −42.0% | +311% | 0.20 | — |
| 98 |  AEPAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc. · Electric Utilities | Whole market | +12.4% | 20.2% | 0.68 | −32.9% | +185% | 0.22 | — |
| 99 | SEICSEI Investments Company · Asset Management | Whole market | +12.7% | 22.3% | 0.65 | −51.8% | +168% | 0.52 | — |
| 100 |  AMEAMETEK, Inc. · Electronic Instruments | Whole market | +14.4% | 22.1% | 0.72 | −42.7% | +481% | 0.34 | — |
RELX against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against RELX, compared period by period and year by year.
How do RELX's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at RELX, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- None of the 17 popular alternatives earned more than RELX over the past 5 years with smaller price swings, so every higher return on the map came with a bumpier ride.
- 15 of the 17 popular alternatives earned less than RELX over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Over the past 5 years, RELX returned 7.0% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (24.1% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than RELX with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| GOOG Alphabet Inc. | +19.0% | 32.0% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| EXLS ExlService Holdings, Inc. | +10.6% | 32.6% |
| RELX This pageRELX Plc | +7.0% | 24.1% |
| MCO Moody's Corporation | +5.9% | 26.9% |
| BR Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | +1.7% | 24.6% |
| SPGI S&P Global Inc. | +0.7% | 25.6% |
| TRI Thomson Reuters Corporation | +0.7% | 29.3% |
| MSCI MSCI Inc. | +0.1% | 31.3% |
| VRSK Verisk Analytics, Inc. | −1.4% | 25.9% |
| CRM Salesforce, Inc. | −3.2% | 39.4% |
| G Genpact Limited | −3.9% | 30.3% |
| FDS FactSet Research Systems Inc. | −4.8% | 30.4% |
| ACN Accenture plc | −5.2% | 32.7% |
| IT Gartner, Inc. | −7.0% | 38.5% |
| TRU TransUnion | −7.0% | 40.1% |
| EFX Equifax Inc. | −7.4% | 35.2% |
| ADBE Adobe Inc. | −16.5% | 38.1% |
| FORR Forrester Research, Inc. | −25.0% | 43.0% |
Has RELX consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares RELX with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than RELX helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Two of the 17 popular alternatives, EXLS and CRM, outperformed RELX in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- GOOG earned more for the risk it took than RELX (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in its worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than RELX over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| RELX RELX Plc (this page) | — | +17.9% | +16.4% | +8.1% | −0.3% | −13.9% | +19.4% | +40.0% | +167% | 24.1% | 0.40 | −49.9% | — | $68B | — |
| EXLS QualifiedExlService Holdings, Inc. | 3/5 short3/3 long | +15.9% | +44.9% | +28.5% | −0.8% | +0.4% | +52.7% | +65.2% | +327% | 32.6% | 0.47 | −51.3% | — | $6.2B | — |
| CRM QualifiedSalesforce, Inc. | 3/5 short2/3 long | +2.5% | +39.7% | +30.7% | −3.8% | −3.9% | +21.3% | −14.8% | +240% | 39.4% | 0.12 | −58.7% | — | $200B | — |
| GOOG Internet Content & InformationAlphabet Inc. | 2/5 short3/3 long | −4.1% | −4.2% | +0.4% | +6.9% | +31.2% | +148% | +138% | +752% | 32.0% | 0.71 | −44.6% | — | $4.1T | — |
| MSCI Financial - Data & Stock ExchangesMSCI Inc. | 2/5 short2/3 long | +5.9% | −5.0% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +11.8% | +25.5% | +0.5% | +702% | 31.3% | 0.16 | −43.7% | — | $43B | — |
| MCO Financial - Data & Stock ExchangesMoody's Corporation | 1/5 short2/3 long | +1.7% | −5.7% | +3.8% | −4.1% | +1.1% | +57.3% | +33.4% | +383% | 26.9% | 0.35 | −42.0% | — | $82B | — |
| SPGI Financial - Data & Stock ExchangesS&P Global Inc. | 1/5 short2/3 long | +8.3% | −2.1% | −0.6% | −13.9% | −7.4% | +28.2% | +3.7% | +293% | 25.6% | 0.16 | −39.8% | — | $129B | — |
| TRI Specialty Business ServicesThomson Reuters Corporation | 2/5 short1/3 long | +18.2% | +19.0% | +22.4% | −8.8% | −28.1% | −2.5% | +3.6% | +244% | 29.3% | 0.17 | −63.5% | — | $49B | — |
| BR Information Technology ServicesBroadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 2/5 short1/3 long | +9.3% | +20.7% | +13.1% | −16.8% | −20.2% | +9.7% | +8.7% | +234% | 24.6% | 0.19 | −48.2% | — | $20B | — |
| TRU Financial - Data & Stock ExchangesTransUnion | 1/5 short1/3 long | +9.6% | −0.8% | +0.9% | −5.7% | −1.7% | +22.2% | −30.6% | +149% | 40.1% | 0.02 | −64.9% | — | $15B | — |
| IT Information Technology ServicesGartner, Inc. | 4/5 short0/3 long | +19.8% | +55.7% | +40.6% | −7.3% | −8.3% | −37.0% | −30.3% | +152% | 38.5% | 0.01 | −77.2% | — | $14B | — |
| ACN Information Technology ServicesAccenture plc | 4/5 short0/3 long | +29.5% | +66.5% | +25.1% | −4.8% | +2.2% | −13.6% | −23.6% | +146% | 32.7% | 0.00 | −67.8% | — | $146B | — |
| FDS Financial - Data & Stock ExchangesFactSet Research Systems Inc. | 4/5 short0/3 long | +9.9% | +22.5% | +33.5% | +11.1% | +9.5% | −24.7% | −21.8% | +127% | 30.4% | -0.01 | −61.1% | — | $11B | — |
| FORR Consulting ServicesForrester Research, Inc. | 4/5 short0/3 long | +7.2% | +22.0% | +99.3% | +49.2% | +37.9% | −55.2% | −76.2% | −66.5% | 43.0% | -0.45 | −91.7% | — | $232M | — |
| G Information Technology ServicesGenpact Limited | 2/5 short0/3 long | +13.6% | +27.0% | +6.8% | −14.3% | −1.0% | +15.5% | −18.1% | +85.4% | 30.3% | 0.02 | −49.5% | — | $6.6B | — |
| VRSK Software - ServicesVerisk Analytics, Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | +11.0% | −5.2% | +6.8% | −13.0% | −18.1% | −16.8% | −6.7% | +151% | 25.9% | 0.08 | −50.8% | — | $25B | — |
| ADBE Software - ApplicationAdobe Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | +2.9% | +9.4% | +3.3% | −23.0% | −25.2% | −52.5% | −59.4% | +135% | 38.1% | -0.28 | −71.9% | — | $100B | — |
| EFX Consulting ServicesEquifax Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | +11.3% | −1.7% | −10.5% | −16.8% | −22.7% | +2.6% | −31.9% | +49.9% | 35.2% | -0.04 | −54.4% | — | $21B | — |
How did RELX do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where RELX ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with RELX and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, RELX finished in the top quarter in five of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in nine. In 2025, it ranked 9 of 18.
- RELX finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 13 of its 29 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last two.
- Among its popular alternatives, BR came out ahead of RELX most often, in 13 of the 18 years both traded.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of RELX; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places RELX among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of RELX | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RELX This pageRELX Plc | — | −9.5% | +16.6% | +46.1% | −13.0% | +35.4% | +0.3% | +26.2% | −11.2% | +34.9% | +3.2% | +7.4% | +16.5% | +47.2% | +35.8% | −0.2% | +5.8% | +14.3% | −50.7% | +25.2% | +20.3% | +3.3% | +12.5% | −1.8% | +6.8% | −20.7% | +45.1% | −2.8% | −9.4% | −2.5% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 5 of 29 | 9 of 18 | 7 of 18 | 5 of 18 | 5 of 18 | 12 of 18 | 17 of 18 | 15 of 18 | 15 of 18 | 9 of 18 | 13 of 18 | 14 of 17 | 7 of 17 | 6 of 17 | 4 of 17 | 10 of 17 | 12 of 17 | 14 of 16 | 13 of 16 | 3 of 13 | 7 of 12 | 11 of 12 | 6 of 10 | 10 of 10 | 1 of 9 | 6 of 8 | 3 of 8 | 6 of 8 | 7 of 8 | 6 of 8 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 16 of 29 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% | +15.1% | +26.4% | −36.8% | +5.1% | +15.9% | +4.8% | +10.7% | +28.2% | −21.6% | −11.7% | −9.8% | +20.4% | +28.7% | +33.5% |
| EXLS ExlService Holdings, Inc. | 11 of 19 | −4.4% | +43.9% | −9.0% | +17.1% | +70.0% | +22.6% | +32.0% | −12.8% | +19.6% | +12.2% | +56.6% | +4.0% | +4.2% | +18.6% | +4.0% | +18.5% | +112% | −63.0% | +9.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CRM Salesforce, Inc. | 12 of 21 | −20.2% | +27.8% | +98.5% | −47.8% | +14.2% | +36.8% | +18.7% | +34.0% | +49.3% | −12.7% | +32.2% | +7.5% | +31.3% | +65.8% | −23.2% | +79.0% | +130% | −49.0% | +72.0% | +13.7% | +88.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GOOG Alphabet Inc. | 13 of 21 | +65.4% | +35.6% | +58.8% | −38.7% | +65.2% | +31.0% | +29.1% | −1.0% | +35.6% | +1.7% | +44.5% | −6.0% | +58.5% | +9.5% | +8.8% | −4.2% | +101% | −55.5% | +50.2% | +11.1% | +115% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MSCI MSCI Inc. | 10 of 18 | −3.2% | +7.3% | +22.9% | −23.3% | +38.1% | +74.4% | +77.2% | +18.0% | +62.6% | +10.6% | +54.0% | +9.0% | +41.0% | −5.9% | −15.5% | +22.5% | +79.1% | −53.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MCO Moody's Corporation | 19 of 29 | +8.7% | +22.2% | +41.5% | −28.0% | +35.6% | +23.3% | +71.3% | −4.1% | +58.5% | −4.5% | +6.1% | +23.7% | +58.3% | +51.8% | +28.9% | +0.8% | +35.5% | −43.0% | −48.0% | +13.0% | +41.9% | +44.1% | +47.2% | +4.0% | +56.0% | +19.9% | −0.5% | +11.2% | +42.4% |
| SPGI S&P Global Inc. | 20 of 29 | +5.7% | +13.9% | +32.8% | −28.4% | +44.7% | +21.4% | +62.3% | +1.4% | +59.3% | +10.5% | +12.3% | +15.5% | +45.9% | +30.1% | +26.6% | +12.0% | +49.3% | −45.5% | −34.7% | +33.5% | +14.2% | +33.0% | +17.8% | +0.8% | +5.7% | −3.2% | +22.8% | +41.1% | +64.4% |
| TRI Thomson Reuters Corporation | 10 of 23 | −16.6% | +11.1% | +29.8% | −3.1% | +48.3% | +16.6% | +51.4% | +13.3% | +2.2% | +19.1% | −3.4% | +10.1% | +34.5% | +13.3% | −26.2% | +18.7% | +14.5% | −26.3% | +0.4% | +22.1% | −0.1% | −0.6% | +40.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BR Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 13 of 18 | +0.3% | +11.7% | +56.3% | −25.3% | +21.1% | +26.3% | +30.6% | +7.9% | +39.1% | +25.9% | +18.9% | +19.6% | +77.4% | +4.5% | +5.8% | −0.1% | +83.6% | −43.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TRU TransUnion | 7 of 10 | −7.0% | +35.6% | +21.8% | −51.9% | +19.9% | +16.3% | +51.3% | +3.7% | +77.7% | +12.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| IT Gartner, Inc. | 13 of 29 | −47.9% | +7.4% | +34.2% | +0.5% | +109% | +4.0% | +20.5% | +3.8% | +21.9% | +11.4% | +7.7% | +18.5% | +54.4% | +32.4% | +4.7% | +84.0% | +1.2% | +1.5% | −11.3% | +53.4% | +3.5% | +10.2% | +22.9% | −21.3% | +69.2% | −54.7% | −23.9% | −42.9% | −4.4% |
| ACN Accenture plc | 13 of 24 | −22.1% | +1.9% | +33.6% | −34.8% | +60.7% | +26.0% | +51.2% | −6.2% | +33.3% | +14.3% | +20.8% | +11.4% | +26.6% | +27.7% | +12.0% | +19.1% | +29.0% | −7.5% | −1.4% | +29.3% | +8.3% | +2.6% | +46.3% | −33.2% | — | — | — | — | — |
| FDS FactSet Research Systems Inc. | 17 of 29 | −38.9% | +1.6% | +20.0% | −16.8% | +47.5% | +25.1% | +35.5% | +5.0% | +19.4% | +1.8% | +16.7% | +31.3% | +24.9% | +2.2% | −5.9% | +44.1% | +51.1% | −19.5% | −0.7% | +37.9% | +6.3% | +54.2% | +36.0% | −18.6% | −5.3% | −6.7% | +94.2% | +101% | +46.5% |
| FORR Forrester Research, Inc. | 10 of 29 | −48.2% | −41.5% | −25.0% | −39.1% | +40.2% | +0.5% | −6.7% | +3.0% | +4.8% | +53.8% | −26.2% | +4.6% | +45.3% | −19.6% | −3.8% | +48.4% | −8.0% | +0.7% | +3.4% | +44.6% | +4.5% | +1.1% | +14.1% | −22.7% | −59.8% | +45.3% | +57.4% | +92.3% | −11.6% |
| G Genpact Limited | 7 of 18 | +10.5% | +25.8% | −24.0% | −11.7% | +29.5% | −0.9% | +57.6% | −14.1% | +31.6% | −2.6% | +32.0% | +3.0% | +18.6% | +17.8% | −1.6% | +2.1% | +81.4% | −46.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VRSK Verisk Analytics, Inc. | 7 of 16 | −18.2% | +16.0% | +36.2% | −22.3% | +10.8% | +39.9% | +37.9% | +13.6% | +18.3% | +5.6% | +20.0% | −2.5% | +28.9% | +27.0% | +17.8% | +12.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ADBE Adobe Inc. | 17 of 29 | −21.3% | −25.5% | +77.3% | −40.6% | +13.4% | +51.6% | +45.8% | +29.1% | +70.2% | +9.6% | +29.2% | +21.4% | +58.9% | +33.3% | −8.2% | −16.3% | +72.8% | −50.2% | +3.9% | +11.3% | +17.9% | +60.7% | +57.9% | −20.0% | −46.6% | +73.2% | +188% | +13.8% | +11.1% |
| EFX Equifax Inc. | 17 of 29 | −14.2% | +3.7% | +28.2% | −33.1% | +52.8% | +39.0% | +52.3% | −20.0% | +0.9% | +7.3% | +39.3% | +18.6% | +29.5% | +41.9% | +10.9% | +16.2% | +17.2% | −26.6% | −10.0% | +7.2% | +35.8% | +15.2% | +6.2% | −3.9% | −15.2% | +23.5% | −30.3% | −2.7% | +17.0% |
Risk and diversification
How RELX has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were RELX's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents RELX's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1994, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
- In all five of RELX's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: RELX fell 50.4% from March 1998 to November 1999, while the S&P 500 rose 37.9%.
- The slowest recovery came after RELX fell 50.4% from March 1998 to November 1999; it did not regain that peak until February 2005, five years later.
Green means RELX fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | RELX fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 financial crisis | −57.1% | −54.5% | Jul 2007 | Mar 2009 | 20 months | Jul 2013 | 4.3 years |
| No named crash | −50.4% | +37.9% | Mar 1998 | Nov 1999 | 20 months | Feb 2005 | 5.3 years |
| No named crash | −49.9% | +18.1% | May 2025 | Feb 2026 | 9 months | Not yet | — |
| Covid crash | −37.8% | −33.4% | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | 1 month | Apr 2021 | 13 months |
| 2022 bear market | −26.2% | −22.8% | Dec 2021 | Sep 2022 | 9 months | Mar 2023 | 6 months |
How did RELX do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far RELX, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
- None of its popular alternatives fell less than RELX in most of the crashes they both traded through.
- RELX fell less than the S&P 500 in five of the ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the dot-com bust, when RELX fell 33.3% and the S&P 500 fell 47.5%.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than RELX.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RELX This pageRELX Plc | — | −1.4% | −25.1% | −37.7% | −7.9% | −4.7% | −10.0% | −19.2% | −4.4% | −57.0% | −33.3% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 5 of 10 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| EXLS ExlService Holdings, Inc. | 2 of 9 | −5.4% | −21.3% | −46.2% | −26.4% | −5.6% | −13.3% | −18.9% | 0.0% | −80.9% | — |
| CRM Salesforce, Inc. | 1 of 9 | −5.3% | −42.7% | −35.7% | −24.8% | −6.1% | −34.2% | −26.9% | −4.2% | −70.5% | — |
| GOOG Alphabet Inc. | 2 of 9 | −3.9% | −35.0% | −30.8% | −18.9% | −9.9% | −12.7% | −21.1% | −1.1% | −65.3% | — |
| MSCI MSCI Inc. | 2 of 8 | −2.5% | −35.8% | −32.2% | −24.6% | −6.1% | −13.3% | −26.3% | −1.7% | — | — |
| MCO Moody's Corporation | 2 of 10 | −3.4% | −37.6% | −42.0% | −26.1% | −4.6% | −29.3% | −27.6% | −0.7% | −69.3% | −18.5% |
| SPGI S&P Global Inc. | 2 of 10 | −4.2% | −36.3% | −38.1% | −24.6% | −6.2% | −21.3% | −20.8% | −0.4% | −66.4% | −29.5% |
| TRI Thomson Reuters Corporation | 3 of 9 | −2.4% | −19.9% | −35.4% | −9.3% | −7.0% | −17.4% | −25.1% | −2.0% | −56.6% | — |
| BR Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 2 of 9 | −3.8% | −25.4% | −31.1% | −31.2% | −4.4% | −16.7% | −18.9% | −2.4% | −59.0% | — |
| TRU TransUnion | 0 of 6 | −6.4% | −52.7% | −45.1% | −29.8% | −4.8% | −25.0% | — | — | — | — |
| IT Gartner, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −7.4% | −30.7% | −46.5% | −23.1% | −15.5% | −14.9% | −16.3% | −2.5% | −69.9% | −73.1% |
| ACN Accenture plc | 4 of 9 | −4.7% | −37.3% | −33.5% | −22.6% | −4.1% | −14.9% | −22.7% | −1.9% | −35.7% | — |
| FDS FactSet Research Systems Inc. | 4 of 10 | −3.0% | −25.9% | −33.6% | −19.7% | −5.7% | −22.3% | −18.4% | −2.2% | −54.4% | −59.0% |
| FORR Forrester Research, Inc. | 3 of 10 | −7.5% | −42.5% | −45.9% | −18.8% | −11.7% | −16.8% | −6.5% | −2.8% | −53.8% | −84.2% |
| G Genpact Limited | 1 of 9 | −4.9% | −28.0% | −48.4% | −15.9% | −5.6% | −9.9% | −22.3% | −2.9% | −61.7% | — |
| VRSK Verisk Analytics, Inc. | 3 of 8 | −2.6% | −28.4% | −28.5% | −17.4% | −6.6% | −19.1% | −8.0% | −1.0% | — | — |
| ADBE Adobe Inc. | 2 of 10 | −6.2% | −50.3% | −25.6% | −25.5% | −5.4% | −22.7% | −23.6% | −0.2% | −66.7% | −79.9% |
| EFX Equifax Inc. | 4 of 10 | −3.4% | −42.3% | −35.8% | −32.3% | −7.6% | −17.9% | −16.9% | −0.5% | −49.8% | −48.6% |
How closely does RELX move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares RELX with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- Over the past 10 years, RELX captured 61% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 69% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.73. Its share of the market's losses was slightly larger than its share of the gains.
- Four of the 17 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than RELX's 0.88, led by GOOG, MSCI and TRI.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than RELX's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RELX This pageRELX Plc | 61% | 69% | 0.88 | 0.73 |
| GOOG Alphabet Inc. | 132% | 110% | 1.20 | 1.12 |
| MSCI MSCI Inc. | 131% | 121% | 1.08 | 1.12 |
| TRI Thomson Reuters Corporation | 69% | 67% | 1.04 | 0.63 |
| EXLS ExlService Holdings, Inc. | 99% | 109% | 0.90 | 0.90 |
| MCO Moody's Corporation | 131% | 151% | 0.87 | 1.26 |
| VRSK Verisk Analytics, Inc. | 63% | 73% | 0.87 | 0.73 |
| SPGI S&P Global Inc. | 107% | 125% | 0.85 | 1.04 |
| BR Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 90% | 105% | 0.85 | 0.90 |
| CRM Salesforce, Inc. | 115% | 143% | 0.80 | 1.16 |
| FDS FactSet Research Systems Inc. | 71% | 97% | 0.73 | 0.76 |
| IT Gartner, Inc. | 116% | 173% | 0.67 | 1.27 |
| ADBE Adobe Inc. | 123% | 184% | 0.67 | 1.24 |
| ACN Accenture plc | 117% | 186% | 0.63 | 1.12 |
| TRU TransUnion | 142% | 228% | 0.62 | 1.47 |
| G Genpact Limited | 90% | 146% | 0.61 | 0.99 |
| EFX Equifax Inc. | 103% | 191% | 0.54 | 1.39 |
| FORR Forrester Research, Inc. | 65% | 204% | 0.32 | 1.01 |
What diversifies RELX?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with RELX's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing RELX with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in RELX into DXJ would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 18% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+4.6% for RELX alone, +9.2% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and POCT have moved largely independently of RELX over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.49 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- MCK made money in seven of the ten calendar years in which RELX lost money.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which RELX lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% RELX and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2025 | 2022 | 2018 | 2011 | 2008 | 2003 | 2001 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RELX RELX Plc (this page) | 1.00 | +40.0% | 0.40 | −9.5% | −13.0% | −11.2% | −0.2% | −50.7% | −1.8% | −20.7% | −2.8% | −9.4% | −2.5% | 21.1% | +4.6% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.34 | +119% | 1.48 | +27.1% | +3.8% | −5.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.6% | +7.3% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.13 | +225% | 1.34 | +32.8% | +6.0% | −19.8% | −16.1% | −20.8% | — | — | — | — | — | 17.4% | +9.2% |
| POCT Broad MarketInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF | 0.49 | +60.9% | 1.23 | +11.0% | −1.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.6% | +6.0% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.37 | +101% | 1.04 | +9.7% | +10.4% | −8.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.2% | +7.1% |
| HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 0.33 | +83.3% | 1.00 | +11.9% | +7.1% | −3.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.0% | +6.5% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.23 | +323% | 0.97 | +49.2% | −33.5% | −9.1% | +6.8% | −44.7% | +87.3% | −14.6% | — | — | — | 19.7% | +11.7% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.44 | +85.0% | 0.96 | +23.1% | −5.1% | −9.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18.0% | +6.7% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.15 | +126% | 0.96 | +63.7% | −0.8% | −1.9% | +9.6% | +4.9% | — | — | — | — | — | 17.7% | +7.8% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2025 | 2022 | 2018 | 2011 | 2008 | 2003 | 2001 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RELX RELX Plc (this page) | 1.00 | +40.0% | 0.40 | −9.5% | −13.0% | −11.2% | −0.2% | −50.7% | −1.8% | −20.7% | −2.8% | −9.4% | −2.5% | 21.1% | +4.6% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.10 | +479% | 1.55 | +76.3% | +54.1% | −24.5% | +8.1% | −39.6% | +3.5% | −2.5% | −36.8% | +51.7% | +29.1% | 18.2% | +11.5% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | 0.23 | +3,143% | 1.47 | +220% | +1.3% | −16.3% | −24.4% | −20.5% | +6.9% | −25.6% | +350% | — | — | 22.7% | +23.4% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.27 | +1,636% | 1.46 | +121% | +17.0% | +0.8% | −17.0% | −15.2% | +63.6% | +73.7% | −58.7% | −9.5% | — | 21.1% | +19.6% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.27 | +413% | 1.44 | +44.5% | +51.8% | −28.4% | +11.8% | −40.4% | +19.9% | +4.9% | −71.3% | +46.9% | +96.3% | 18.9% | +10.7% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.15 | +690% | 1.41 | +19.2% | +86.6% | −8.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19.0% | +13.4% |
Common questions
What was RELX's worst drawdown?
RELX's deepest decline since it began trading in 1994 was 57.1%, from July 2007 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were RELX's best and worst years?
Over 29 full calendar years, RELX's best year was 2013, when it returned 47.2%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -50.7%.
Is there a better investment than RELX?
Among RELX's popular alternatives, GOOG earned more for the risk it took than RELX over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 44.6%, against 49.9% for RELX. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, PPA (aerospace & defense) and GD (aerospace & defense) earned more than RELX with less volatility over the past 5 years. PPA returned 16.3% a year at 18.9% volatility, against 7.0% a year at 24.1%.
Is RELX more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. RELX's volatility over the past 5 years was 24.1%, 1.4 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, RELX's return lands within 24.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is RELX's Sharpe ratio?
RELX's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.40, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so RELX earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is RELX with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, RELX's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.53 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against RELX instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a RELX holding.
What are the best alternatives to RELX?
Of the 17 popular alternatives we compared, two outperformed RELX in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: EXLS and CRM.
Did RELX outperform the S&P 500?
RELX finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 13 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned -9.5%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did RELX do in stock market crashes?
RELX fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in five of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in five. The clearest case was the dot-com bust, when RELX fell 33.3% and the S&P 500 fell 47.5%.
What diversifies RELX?
These had a low correlation with RELX over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.34), DXJ (correlation 0.13) and POCT (correlation 0.49); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.10), CLS (correlation 0.23) and FIX (correlation 0.27). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than RELX's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of RELX's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
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