UK's RELX says AI-embedded products will drive growth for 'many years'

By Paul Sandle

LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - RELX REL.L, the British information group whose shares have slumped on fears that AI will upend its business, said its own use of the technology would fuel growth for "many years to come", after reporting a 9% rise in 2025 operating profit.

The company, which supplies analytics and data to bankers, lawyers and scientists, said on Thursday it was developing and launching products with embedded AI at a faster pace, while continuing to grow revenue ahead of costs.

"This evolution has been a key driver of our business for well over a decade, and will remain a key driver of customer value and growth in our business for many years to come," it said.

RELX shares have halved in the past year, sliding from 4,135 pence to 2,013 pence as investors fret that AI could disrupt software and analytics business models.

The selloff deepened earlier this month after AI firm Anthropic unveiled a new plugin for its Claude chatbot, hitting RELX and peers Wolters Kluwer WLSNc.AS and Thomson Reuters TRI.TO, the owner of Reuters News.

Shares in RELX, now trading at levels last seen in 2021, were up about 1% in early deals.

RELX grew profit ahead of revenue across all divisions - Risk, Scientific, Legal and Exhibitions - helped by more powerful analytics. It has launched or announced 13 products powered by generative AI, including its legal research platform Lexis+ and integrated agentic legal assistant Protege.

The group posted adjusted operating profit of 3.34 billion pounds ($4.55 billion), broadly in line with analysts' expectations, on revenue up 7% at 9.59 billion pounds.

It lifted its full-year dividend to 67.5 pence a share from 63.0 pence a year ago.

($1 = 0.7338 pounds)