FLR vs J vs ACM vs KBR

For growth investors, Jacobs Solutions Inc.

(J) is the stronger pick with 4. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 0% for Fluor Corporation (FLR). KBR, Inc. (KBR) offers the better valuation at 10. 0x trailing P/E (8. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Fluor Corporation (FLR) a "Buy" — based on 28 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, KBR, Inc.

(KBR) is the cheapest at 10. 0x versus Jacobs Solutions Inc. at 48. 0x. On forward P/E, KBR, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Fluor Corporation (FLR) delivered a total return of +88.

1%, compared to -20. 8% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KBR returned +151. 7% versus J's -19. 1%. 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), KBR, Inc.

(KBR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus Fluor Corporation's 1. 87β — meaning FLR is approximately 132% more volatile than KBR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fluor Corporation (FLR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 33% versus 2% for KBR, Inc. — 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 -5. 0% for Fluor Corporation (FLR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Aecom grew EPS 42. 7% year-over-year, compared to -102. 5% for Fluor Corporation. 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.

KBR, Inc.

(KBR) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 3% net margin versus -0. 3% for Fluor Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KBR leads at 7. 3% versus -2. 3% for FLR. 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, KBR, Inc.

(KBR) trades at 8. 4x forward P/E versus 16. 2x for Fluor Corporation — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACM: 79. 6% to $125. 63.

In this comparison, KBR (2.

0% yield), ACM (1. 4% yield), J (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. FLR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, KBR, Inc.

(KBR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 80), 2. 0% yield, +151. 7% 10Y return). Fluor Corporation (FLR) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KBR: +151. 7%, FLR: -6. 7%), 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.

In terms of investment character: FLR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; J is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ACM is a small-cap deep-value stock; KBR is a small-cap deep-value stock. J, ACM, KBR pay a dividend while FLR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.