ACM vs J

For growth investors, Jacobs Solutions Inc.

(J) is the stronger pick with 4. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 2% for Aecom (ACM). Aecom (ACM) offers the better valuation at 19. 9x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Aecom (ACM) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Aecom (ACM) is the cheapest at 19.

9x versus Jacobs Solutions Inc. at 53. 2x. On forward P/E, Aecom is actually cheaper at 14. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Aecom (ACM) delivered a total return of +27.

3%, compared to -12. 5% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACM returned +172. 9% versus J's -10. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Aecom (ACM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Jacobs Solutions Inc. 's 1. 22β — meaning J is approximately 32% more volatile than ACM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 58% versus 125% for Aecom — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Jacobs Solutions Inc.

(J) is pulling ahead at 4. 6% versus 0. 2% for Aecom (ACM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Aecom grew EPS 42. 7% year-over-year, compared to -62. 3% for Jacobs Solutions Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, J leads at 7. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Aecom (ACM) is the more profitable company, earning 3.

5% net margin versus 2. 4% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: J leads at 7. 2% versus 6. 4% for ACM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — J leads at 24. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Aecom (ACM) trades at 14.

2x forward P/E versus 17. 8x for Jacobs Solutions Inc. — 3. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACM: 49. 7% to $125. 63.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Aecom (ACM) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 1. 0% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Aecom (ACM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

92), 1. 2% yield, +172. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACM: +172. 9%, J: -10. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.