RELX Accelerates Share Buyback, Repurchasing Over 73 Million Shares Year-to-Date
The UK information analytics group has intensified its capital return programme while simultaneously issuing shares under executive compensation schemes.
Buyback Programme Intensifies
RELX PLC has accelerated its share repurchase activity through July 2026, acquiring a total of 73,682,100 ordinary shares since the beginning of the year, according to filings submitted to the SEC (6-K filing, 2026-08-03). The £61 billion information analytics group executed purchases through ABN AMRO Bank N.V. on the London Stock Exchange across multiple tranches during the month.
The company repurchased 852,599 shares during 1-3 July, followed by 1,376,002 shares during 6-10 July, 1,348,055 shares during 13-17 July, and 917,978 shares during 20-24 July (6-K filing, 2026-08-03). All purchased shares are being held as treasury shares rather than cancelled.
Treasury Holdings Expand
As of 31 July 2026, RELX held 78,486,548 ordinary shares in treasury, representing approximately 4.3% of its total capital structure (6-K filing, 2026-08-03). The company's capital consists of 1,828,549,401 ordinary shares of 14 51/116 pence each, with total voting rights standing at 1,750,062,853 shares.
This marks a notable increase from the 73,295,338 treasury shares held at 30 June 2026, when voting rights totalled 1,755,176,463 (6-K filing, 2026-08-03). The reduction in outstanding shares of approximately 5.1 million over the course of July reflects the company's ongoing commitment to returning capital to shareholders.
Executive Compensation Issuance
Amid the buyback activity, RELX filed a block admission application with the London Stock Exchange for 70,000 ordinary shares to be issued under the RELX PLC Executive Share Ownership Scheme 2023 (6-K filing, 2026-08-03). The shares, which were expected to be admitted to trading on 30 July 2026, will rank pari passu with existing issued shares.
The simultaneous share repurchases and issuances reflect a common corporate strategy of managing dilution from equity compensation programmes while returning excess capital to shareholders.
Market Context
MarginX data shows RELX has maintained consistent buyback activity in recent months, with recent repurchase programmes including tranches of 623,000 shares, 3,482,872 shares, and 628,437 shares. The company is scheduled to pay a dividend of £0.209 per share on 6 August 2026.
The filing provides shareholders with the updated denominator figure of 1,750,062,853 voting rights for calculating disclosure obligations under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (6-K filing, 2026-08-03).
RELX, which operates across scientific, technical, and medical information as well as legal and regulatory intelligence, is expected to report its nine-month 2026 trading statement on 22 October, with third-quarter results anticipated the following day, according to MarginX data.
The company's shares last traded at £26.07, valuing the business at approximately £61 billion.
This article was generated by MarginX from the 6-K filing on 2026-08-03. It is not investment advice.