Jacobs Solutions Stock To $91?

J: Jacobs Solutions logo
J
Jacobs Solutions

Jacobs Solutions (J) stock has fallen 11% during the past day, and is currently trading at $129.17. Our multi-factor assessment suggests that it may be time to sell J stock. We have, overall, a pessimistic view of the stock, and a price of $91 may not be out of reach. We believe there is a near-equal mix of good and bad in Jacobs Solutions stock given its overall Moderate operating performance and financial condition. But keeping in mind its High valuation, we think that the stock is Unattractive.

Below is our assessment:

  CONCLUSION
What you pay:
Valuation High
What you get:
Growth Moderate
Profitability Very Weak
Financial Stability Very Strong
Downturn Resilience Very Weak
Operating Performance Moderate
 
Stock Opinion Unattractive

Smart investing isn’t about stock picking or prediction, it’s about asset allocation. See how Trefis’ Boston-based, wealth management partner does it. It has included High Quality Portfolio as part of its asset allocation strategy.

Let’s get into details of each of the assessed factors but before that, for quick background: With $16 Bil in market cap, Jacobs Solutions provides consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery services across government and private sectors, specializing in critical mission solutions, people and places solutions, and wind-tunnel design-build project management.

Relevant Articles
  1. What’s Behind The 86% Surge in Wheaton Stock?
  2. Why Has Barrick Mining Stock Surged 154%?
  3. What Could Send Pfizer Stock Soaring
  4. What Can Trigger Intel Stock’s Slide?
  5. Cash Machine Trading Cheap – Iridium Communications Stock Set to Run?
  6. 3M Stock vs. Honeywell Stock: Which Is A Better Investment?

[1] Valuation Looks High

  J S&P 500
Price-to-Sales Ratio 1.3 3.1
Price-to-Earnings Ratio 31.7 22.8
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio 37.9 19.9

This table highlights how J is valued vs broader market. For more details see: J Valuation Ratios

[2] Growth Is Moderate

  • Jacobs Solutions has seen its top line grow at an average rate of 1.1% over the last 3 years
  • Its revenues have grown 61% from $7.3 Bil to $12 Bil in the last 12 months
  • Also, its quarterly revenues grew 5.1% to $3.0 Bil in the most recent quarter from $2.9 Bil a year ago.

  J S&P 500
3-Year Average 1.1% 5.5%
Latest Twelve Months* 61.5% 6.1%
Most Recent Quarter (YoY)* 5.1% 7.1%

This table highlights how J is growing vs broader market. For more details see: J Revenue Comparison

[3] Profitability Appears Very Weak

  • J last 12 month operating income was $848 Mil representing operating margin of 7.2%
  • With cash flow margin of 4.2%, it generated nearly $500 Mil in operating cash flow over this period
  • For the same period, J generated nearly $493 Mil in net income, suggesting net margin of about 4.2%

  J S&P 500
Current Operating Margin 7.2% 18.8%
Current OCF Margin 4.2% 20.5%
Current Net Income Margin 4.2% 13.1%

This table highlights how J profitability vs broader market. For more details see: J Operating Income Comparison

[4] Financial Stability Looks Very Strong

  • J Debt was $3.0 Bil at the end of the most recent quarter, while its current Market Cap is $16 Bil. This implies Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 19.2%
  • J Cash (including cash equivalents) makes up $1.3 Bil of $11 Bil in total Assets. This yields a Cash-to-Assets Ratio of 11.3%

  J S&P 500
Current Debt-to-Equity Ratio 19.2% 21.4%
Current Cash-to-Assets Ratio 11.3% 7.0%

[5] Downturn Resilience Is Very Weak

J has fared worse than the S&P 500 index during various economic downturns. We assess this based on both (a) how much the stock fell and, (b) how quickly it recovered.

2022 Inflation Shock

  • J stock fell 26.8% from a high of $148.16 on 21 April 2022 to $108.49 on 30 September 2022 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 25.4% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 7 March 2024
  • Since then, the stock increased to a high of $164.44 on 21 October 2025 , and currently trades at $129.17

  J S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -26.8% -25.4%
Time to Full Recovery 524 days 464 days

 
2020 Covid Pandemic

  • J stock fell 39.3% from a high of $103.86 on 21 February 2020 to $63.01 on 23 March 2020 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 33.9% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 16 November 2020

  J S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -39.3% -33.9%
Time to Full Recovery 238 days 148 days

 
2008 Global Financial Crisis

  • J stock fell 74.1% from a high of $101.58 on 3 January 2008 to $26.27 on 20 November 2008 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 56.8% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 20 February 2020

  J S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -74.1% -56.8%
Time to Full Recovery 4109 days 1480 days

 

But the risk is not limited to major market crashes. Stocks fall even when markets are good – think events like earnings, business updates, outlook changes. Read J Dip Buyer Analyses to see how the stock has recovered from sharp dips in the past.

The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.