Reviewing Relx (NYSE:RELX) and Perion Network (NASDAQ:PERI)

Perion Network (NASDAQ:PERI) and Relx (NYSE:RELX) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, profitability, risk, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Perion Network and Relx, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Perion Network	1	1	4	0	2.50
Relx	0	0	5	1	3.17

Perion Network presently has a consensus price target of $14.00, suggesting a potential upside of 45.08%. Given Perion Network’s higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Perion Network is more favorable than Relx.

Risk and Volatility

Perion Network has a beta of 1.54, indicating that its share price is 54% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Relx has a beta of 0.87, indicating that its share price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Perion Network and Relx’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Perion Network	-1.12%	2.68%	2.13%
Relx	N/A	N/A	N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Perion Network and Relx”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Perion Network	$498.29 million	0.87	$12.61 million	($0.12)	-80.42
Relx	$12.06 billion	6.84	$2.47 billion	$1.86	24.27

Relx has higher revenue and earnings than Perion Network. Perion Network is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Relx, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

68.1% of Perion Network shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 15.0% of Relx shares are held by institutional investors. 2.8% of Perion Network shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.0% of Relx shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Relx beats Perion Network on 9 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Perion Network

Perion Network Ltd. provides digital advertising solutions to brands, agencies, and publishers in North America, Europe, and internationally. It offers Wildfire, a content monetization platform; search monetization solutions, including website monetization, search mediation, and app monetization; and cross-channel digital advertising software as a service platform. The company also provides supply management platform; demand management platform for campaign planning and design; analytics platform, which provides information and performance insights; creative platform, a robust media platform; and an AI platform that uses machine learning to bring intelligence to the various phases of campaigns. In addition, it offers an actionable performance monitoring platform to support the various phases of campaign management; an online video player and integrated ad server to upload, manage, and stream video content; content monetization system, which integrates ads within the content layouts at the page level. Further, the company provides a publisher management system that provides analytics and performance optimization tools, as well as reports; search-demand management systems; monetization products that integrate and onboards demand vendors; and AI Systems. Additionally, it offers Intelligent HUB (iHUB), which connects the supply and demand sides of the marketplace; and strategic optimization of relevant traits (SORT), a provisional patent technology that eliminates the need for cookies. The company was formerly known as IncrediMail Ltd. and changed its name to Perion Network Ltd. in November 2011. Perion Network Ltd. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Holon, Israel.

About Relx

RELX Plc engages in provision of information and analytics solutions for professional and business customers across industries. It operates through the following business segments: Scientific, Technical & Medical; Risk & Business Analytics; Legal; and Exhibitions. The Scientific, Technical & Medical segment is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science, and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. The Risk & Business Analytics segment provides customers with solutions and decision tools that combine public and industry specific content with advanced technology and analytics to assist them in evaluating and predicting risk and enhancing operational efficiency. The Legal segment is a global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that helps customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes and advance the rule of law around the world. The Exhibitions segment is an event business, enhancing the effect of face-to-face through data and digital tools. The company was founded by Albert Edward Reed in 1903 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.