Relx Shares Climb as Strong Legal Division Growth Eases AI Fears

Relx (RELX) shares climbed in pre-market trading after the information and analytics company posted strong first-half 2026 results and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. The performance was highlighted by significant growth in its Legal segment, directly addressing investor concerns about the potential impact of third-party artificial intelligence.

H1 Financials Show Broad-Based Growth

According to its H1 2026 interim results, Relx delivered solid growth across its key financial metrics. The London-headquartered company reported:

• Underlying revenue growth of 7% to £4.871 billion.
• Adjusted operating profit growth of 9% to £1.727 billion.
• Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) up 11% at constant currency.

All four of the company's business divisions contributed to the results. The group's adjusted operating margin also expanded by 70 basis points to 35.5%, which the company attributed to an ongoing business mix shift toward higher-growth analytics and decision tools.

Legal Segment Performance Rebuts AI Concerns

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The Legal division was the standout performer, delivering 10% underlying revenue growth and 13% growth in adjusted operating profit. This result is particularly significant as it provides evidence against investor fears that new AI tools from competitors, such as Anthropic, could disrupt Relx's core legal franchise.

The company credited the growth to accelerating adoption of its own AI-enabled platforms, including Lexis+ and the Protege workflow tool. CEO Erik Engstrom said in a statement that the company delivered "strong underlying revenue and profit growth" and that the Legal division recorded "a further step up in growth."

Market Reaction and Outlook

Relx stock rose 2.0% in pre-open U.S. trading on the news, outperforming a weaker broader market, with major indices trading modestly lower ahead of the open. By delivering strong results and a direct rebuttal to the AI disruption narrative, the company provided a clear fundamental catalyst for the move.

Looking ahead, management reaffirmed its full-year 2026 outlook, stating it expects continued strong underlying growth in revenue, adjusted operating profit, and adjusted EPS.