Shares of RELX PLC, the global information and analytics provider, advanced in London trading on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following the release of its full-year 2025 financial results. The stock gained approximately 3.3%, reaching 2,080.34 pence, a move that helped recover a portion of the steep losses incurred during the prior session's sell-off. The rebound was fueled by the company's report of solid underlying growth and the announcement of a significantly expanded capital return program for the coming year.
Strong Financial Performance for 2025
For the fiscal year 2025, RELX delivered revenue of £9.59 billion, marking a 7% increase on an underlying, like-for-like basis. Profitability metrics were even stronger, with adjusted operating profit rising 9% to £3.342 billion. The company also reported adjusted earnings per share of 128.5 pence. In a sign of confidence in its financial health and future cash generation, the board proposed a full-year dividend of 67.5 pence per share. Furthermore, RELX outlined a substantial capital return initiative, planning to deploy £2.25 billion on share repurchases throughout 2026. This represents a notable step-up from the £1.5 billion buyback executed in the previous year.
Management Confident in AI-Driven Growth Trajectory
Chief Executive Erik Engstrom struck an optimistic tone, attributing part of the company's success to the strategic integration of artificial intelligence. He stated that the ongoing evolution of AI is enabling RELX to enhance product functionality and accelerate time-to-market for new offerings, all while maintaining disciplined cost management where expense growth continues to trail revenue expansion. The company explicitly forecast that its AI-embedded products would be a primary driver of growth for "many years" to come. This commentary is particularly significant given that RELX shares have faced investor scrutiny over the potential disruptive threat posed by generative AI tools to proprietary data and subscription-based research models.
The market's positive reaction underscores a key dynamic: a stepped-up buyback program provides direct, mechanical support to earnings per share and can act as a stabilizing force for a stock when broader market sentiment is wary of business model risks. Traders and investors often view aggressive capital returns as a signal of management's confidence in the company's intrinsic value and its sustainable cash flow.
Navigating the Generative AI Landscape
The backdrop to these results is a fierce debate within the investment community regarding the long-term impact of generative AI on firms that monetize proprietary data and analytical tools. A central question has been whether large language models (LLMs) will erode subscription revenues by offering cheaper alternatives, or whether content owners like RELX will ultimately benefit by selling more data—and at premium prices—to power these AI systems. RELX's recent performance and guidance suggest the latter scenario is currently playing out in its business segments.
Nevertheless, the strategic challenge does not dissipate entirely. Persistent risks remain that customers could increasingly rely on lower-cost AI alternatives, or that competitors might find technological workarounds to circumvent paid content libraries. Such shifts could pressure RELX's pricing power and necessitate a rapid recalibration of growth expectations. The company's results statement also reiterated standard operational risk factors, including those related to data regulation, usage compliance, and cybersecurity—all areas where unforeseen issues can quickly materialize as significant costs.
Forward-Looking Catalysts and Shareholder Calendar
Investor focus will now shift to the company's upcoming results webcast and the detailed materials on its investor relations website, where management is expected to provide further granularity on several fronts. Key areas for inquiry will include the rollout timeline for new AI-powered products, pricing strategy evolution in the face of technological change, and the intended pacing of the newly announced £2.25 billion share repurchase plan.
Looking beyond the immediate earnings call, shareholders can note several key dates on the corporate calendar. The ex-dividend date for the 2025 final dividend of 67.5 pence is set for May 7, 2026, with the payment to follow on June 18, 2026. These dates will be the next concrete financial milestones for income-focused investors following the stock.
In summary, RELX's 2025 results demonstrate robust operational execution and financial discipline. The company is navigating the complex AI transition with assertive capital returns and a clear narrative of embedding technology to enhance its core offerings. While questions about the long-term competitive landscape persist, the immediate market response indicates approval of the firm's current strategy and financial stewardship.
