Insights instead of data – this revolution is transforming entire industries: Aspermont, RELX, Verisk Analytics

RELX and Verisk: Data treasures as the foundation for billion-dollar companies

Have you ever heard of Verisk Analytics? Verisk is a leading global provider of data and analytics for risk management in the insurance industry. Verisk offers software and data models for underwriting optimization, loss assessment, for example, in the case of motor vehicle damage or weather disasters, as well as compliance services, for example, for loss statistics and reporting requirements. Its business model is based primarily on annual license fees for Software-as-a-Service and data subscriptions. Among other things, Verisk operates the ISO claims settlement organization and has its own accident, weather, and demographic databases. Since Verisk has been in business for decades and has built up a valuable treasure trove of data, business is booming: 80% of its revenue is recurring, and growth is currently at 7.8% per year. Verisk Analytics recently acquired additional companies in the insurance industry and is conquering more and more business areas.

RELX operates in a similar industry. The Company is a leading global provider of specialist data, analysis tools, and events. RELX focuses on insurance and financial data, scientific and technical information, tax and legal data, and related B2B trade shows. In 2024, RELX generated total revenue of around GBP 9.4 billion, with growth of between 4% and 11% depending on the business segment. The subscription model and the recurring revenue it generates are also central to RELX. Another trend can be seen in the business models of RELX and Verisk Analytics: instead of just selling data, companies are increasingly selling actionable insights, striking a chord with customers.

Aspermont scores with data from over 100 years of mining journalism

The Australian media company Aspermont is currently on the verge of rolling out its decades-old treasure trove of data, in a way reminiscent of billion-dollar peers such as RELX and Verisk. Aspermont is best known for media brands like Mining Journal, among others. Some of which have been published for more than a century. Aspermont has made the associated treasure trove of data usable with the help of AI. In August, the Company achieved a major operational breakthrough: its new AI-driven service, Mining IQ, secured a six-month contract worth AUD 550,000 with mining giant Rio Tinto. Around the same time, international investors subscribed to a capital increase above the share price at the time.

Mining IQ could be the breakthrough for Aspermont. Historical articles on mining regions, projects, and companies contain details that, when combined with current data, create valuable insights. This is true, for example, when raw materials companies analyze potential acquisitions, want to take a look at specific risks in certain mining regions, or in other areas where it is important to be able to access reliable information within a short period of time. Through its established media brands and information services, covering sectors such as agriculture and energy, Aspermont already generates stable recurring revenues – the first quarter of 2025 was the 34th consecutive quarter of rising subscription revenues. Thanks to decades of activity in the energy, mining, and agricultural commodities sectors, Aspermont has long-standing relationships in these industries, as well as in related industries. These are ideal conditions for rolling out the new Mining IQ service on a broad scale and generating strong revenues with insights in the emerging mining sector.

Insights for the commodities boom – Aspermont is only a typical penny stock at first glance

Analysts generally assign higher valuations to companies with regularly recurring revenues. While these valuations have already been achieved by RELX and Verisk, as well as other data providers such as S&P Global, Aspermont's stock has not yet taken off. The valuation of this long-established company is still only in the low double digits. Given its several world-renowned media brands, many customers in the mining sector, the new AI tool Mining IQ, which has already convinced Rio Tinto, and the numerous new investors in the commodities sector, Aspermont's stock should be able to benefit. Investors should definitely take a closer look at the Company and monitor its progress closely. Although listed at less than one cent in Germany, the penny stock represents a long-established traditional company with its sights firmly set on the future – this could be an opportunity for forward-thinking investors.