RELX Shares Climb After Strong H1 Growth and Reaffirmed Outlook

RELX (LON: REL) shares are up over 2% on Thursday after the FTSE 100 information and analytics group posted robust first-half results and reaffirmed its full-year guidance.

The group, which provides data and decision tools across risk, scientific, legal and exhibitions markets, reported revenue of £4,871m for the six months to 30 June 2026, up from £4,741m a year earlier and representing underlying growth of 7%.

Adjusted operating profit rose 9% on an underlying basis to £1,727m, pushing the adjusted operating margin up to 35.5% from 34.8%.

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Adjusted earnings per share climbed 11% at constant currency to 68.6p, while reported EPS jumped 24% to 65.7p, aided by a lower net interest charge. The board lifted the interim dividend by 7% to 20.9p, payable on 10 September.

Chief Executive Erik Engstrom highlighted “strong underlying revenue and profit growth and strong new sales” across the group’s divisions, citing continued strength in Risk, a step-up in Scientific, Technical & Medical and Legal, and ongoing strong growth in Exhibitions.

He also pointed to artificial intelligence as an increasingly important driver, saying AI is enabling the company to launch higher value-add products faster while keeping cost growth below revenue growth.

RELX also confirmed progress on capital returns, having completed £1,750m of its £2,250m share buyback programme in the first half, with a further £100m done since 1 July. Net debt stood at £8,733m, equivalent to 2.3 times EBITDA, with cash conversion of 98%.

Management expects “another year of strong underlying growth” in revenue, profit and adjusted EPS, reassuring investors and supporting the stock’s advance in early trading.