The information and analytics giant posted broad-based growth across legal, risk and scientific divisions, but investors stayed cautious after a sharp rebound in the stock.
RELX (LSE: REL) said underlying revenue climbed 7% in the first nine months of the year, with artificial intelligence-enabled analytics tools helping drive demand across its core divisions, though shares slipped 0.3% on the day as the update largely matched expectations rather than surprising to the upside.
The muted share reaction comes after a striking recovery in RELX stock, which has rallied roughly 50% from lows hit earlier in the year when investors feared AI could disrupt the group's data and analytics businesses. Today's trading statement appears to support that rebound rather than extend it, with the market treating confirmation of steady growth as already priced in.
RELX's legal division led growth at 10%, as customers took up its AI-enabled legal research platform, while the risk business grew 8% on rising demand for fraud and financial-crime compliance tools. The scientific and medical arm expanded 6%, and exhibitions grew a more modest 4%, held back by disruption in the Middle East.
Management said it continued to embed AI capabilities across its product range, pointing to strong early take-up of a new research tool and growing 'agentic' functionality within its legal platform. Rather than facing disruption from AI, as some investors had feared, RELX appears to be positioning the technology as a driver of incremental demand across its existing franchises.
The group reaffirmed guidance for another year of strong growth in revenue, profit and earnings, with profit expected to outpace revenue growth across most divisions. The update suggests RELX's AI narrative is shifting from a risk to monitor into a steady, if unspectacular, growth driver, with investors likely to watch upcoming results for signs that AI adoption is translating into accelerating, rather than merely stable, momentum.
This report is based on RELX's announcement and coverage by UK Investor Magazine. Company announcements can be tracked via London Stock Exchange RNS and Investegate, and the full markets calendar is worth watching for the next update.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Photo: Apex Virtual Education on Unsplash.