J vs ACM Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Jacobs Solutions and AECOM are both evaluated as global infrastructure engineering and consulting firms benefiting from public infrastructure spending, water investment, and portfolio shifts toward higher-margin, fee-based services. Both compare on backlog growth, segment mix, and margin trajectory rather than dramatic differences in business model. The choice between them often comes down to relative segment exposure and execution track record on margin improvement initiatives.
This comparison suits investors seeking exposure to global infrastructure and engineering services spending, where relative backlog growth and margin execution between two similarly positioned firms drive the decision.
J holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. J has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+1.93% vs -45.29%), though ACM has the better forward P/E setup (10.54x vs 18.40x for J). J leads on both revenue growth (34.50%) and operating margin (7.39%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for ACM (+28.90%) than for J (+6.94%).
- Want diversified exposure across water, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing
- Believe in the company's ongoing portfolio simplification strategy
- Value strong positioning in structurally growing water infrastructure markets
- Are comfortable with government funding cycle exposure
- Want exposure to global transportation and water infrastructure programs
- Believe in AECOM's shift toward a higher-margin, fee-based model
- Value a large, diversified international backlog
- Are comfortable with public sector budget cyclicality
| Metric | J | ACM |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 48.0 | 36.0 |
| AI rank | #564 | #1524 |
| Latest close | $149.05 | $67.43 |
| 1M return | +10.46% | -6.85% |
| 6M return | +7.21% | -30.62% |
| 1Y return | +1.93% | -45.29% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | J | ACM |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.26K (+2.6%) started 2025-09-02 | $5.54K (-44.6%) started 2025-09-02 |
| 5Y ago | $13.89K (+38.9%) started 2021-09-01 | $11.32K (+13.2%) started 2021-08-31 |
| 10Y ago | $38.08K (+280.8%) started 2016-09-01 | $24.06K (+140.6%) started 2016-08-31 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | J | ACM |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $17.79B | $8.68B |
| Trailing P/E | 50.49 | 23.74 |
| Forward P/E | 18.40 | 10.54 |
| Price/Sales | N/A | 0.56 |
| EV/Revenue | 1.45 | 0.73 |
| Analyst target | $162.53 | $86.92 |
| Target upside | +6.94% | +28.90% |
| Metric | J | ACM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 34.50% | -14.20% |
| Earnings growth | -25.40% | N/A |
| EPS growth | -25.40% | N/A |
| FCF margin | +4.54% | +2.47% |
| Operating margin | 7.39% | -1.84% |
| Profit margin | 2.38% | 1.87% |
| ROIC proxy | 8.00% | 16.61% |
| Return on equity | 8.00% | 16.61% |
| Dividend yield | 0.96% | 1.79% |
| Beta | 0.67 | 0.92 |
| Debt/equity | 124.73 | 138.88 |
| Current ratio | 1.29 | 1.06 |
| Quick ratio | 1.25 | 0.93 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | J | ACM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +2.63% | -45.31% |
| CAGR | +2.65% | -45.52% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.11 | -1.58 | |
| Max drawdown | 34.77% | 54.05% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.95% | 12.38% | |
| Max wkly drop | 16.61% | 22.47% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +35.60% | +7.82% |
| CAGR | +6.28% | +1.52% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.19 | 0.03 | |
| Max drawdown | 34.77% | 54.05% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.95% | 12.38% | |
| Max wkly drop | 16.61% | 22.47% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +261.12% | +129.28% |
| CAGR | +13.70% | +8.65% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.44 | 0.28 | |
| Max drawdown | 39.33% | 54.12% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.10% | 16.89% | |
| Max wkly drop | 24.33% | 34.68% |
| Category | J | ACM |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Jacobs Solutions Inc. | AECOM |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials / Engineering & Construction |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Jacobs Solutions provides engineering, consulting, and project management services across infrastructure, water, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing markets. | AECOM provides infrastructure consulting, design, and program management services for transportation, water, environmental, and government clients worldwide. |
| Investor focus | Investors watch backlog growth in water and infrastructure segments, margin improvement from its portfolio simplification strategy, and exposure to government infrastructure spending. | Investors watch AECOM's transition to a fee-based, design-focused business model, backlog growth in transportation and water markets, and margin expansion progress. |
- Diversified backlog spanning water, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing end markets
- Ongoing portfolio simplification aimed at improving margins and focus
- Strong position in water infrastructure, a structurally growing category
- Large global backlog across transportation and water infrastructure markets
- Shift toward higher-margin, fee-based professional services
- Benefits from sustained public infrastructure investment in multiple countries
- Exposure to government funding cycles and infrastructure spending bills
- Margin execution risk as it continues to reshape its portfolio
- Competitive bidding pressure in large engineering contracts
- Sensitive to public sector budget cycles and infrastructure funding timing
- Execution risk on large, complex, multi-year programs
- Competitive pressure from other global engineering and consulting firms
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