Why Relx (LON:REL) will appeal to moat investors

There's an exclusive group of companies in the stock market that stand out because they've got what billionaire investor Warren Buffett calls economic moats. Like medieval castles, their profits are fortified by impregnable business models... and there are signs that Relx (LON:REL) might be one of them.

Given the present disruption to world economies, it is more important than ever to know how to identify high-quality stocks for your portfolio - and finding companies with moats is one way to do it.

Moats come in different forms, but they mostly consist of:

• Intangible Assets - Such as brands that customers love, valuable patents or regulatory approvals

• High switching Costs - It might be too costly, complicated or unnecessary for customers to look elsewhere

• Network Effects - When customers become part of a product it creates tremendously powerful businesses

• Cost Advantages - Superior processes and unique locations and assets make it hard for others to compete

• Great Scale - Large infrastructure and distribution networks are powerful barriers to entry in many industries

Here's a quick guide to finding the clues to economic moats - using Relx as an example...

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Relx (LON:REL)'s impressive metrics

Some of the biggest indicators of a moat involve persistent strong margins and high levels of cash generation – cash being especially important given the recent shocks to the worldwide economy. Here are a few ways of gauging these characteristics - and how Relx compares:

1. High rates of Free Cash Flow - the measure of a thriving company.
   - A high ratio of free cash flow to sales can be a very positive sign. For Relx, the figure is an impressive 23.2%.

2. High Return on Capital Employed - the measure of a company growing efficiently and profitably.
   - A 5-year average ROCE of more than 12 percent is a pointer to strong efficiency. For Relx, the figure is an eye-catching 22.0%.

3. High Return on Equity (compared to peers) - the measure of a company making good profits from its assets.
   - Relx has a 5-year average ROE of 59.7%.

4. High Operating Margins (compared to peers) - the measure of a company with pricing power
   - Relx has a 5-year average operating margin of 25.9%.

What does this mean for potential investors?

Some of the best quality stocks in the market have defensible models that can deliver high levels of shareholder returns over the long term. But there are no guarantees and it's important to do your own research. Indeed, we've identified some areas of concern with Relx that you can find out about here.