J vs MTZ

For growth investors, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) is the stronger pick with 16. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 6% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) offers the better valuation at 51. 5x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) a "Buy" — based on 38 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, Jacobs Solutions Inc.

(J) is the cheapest at 51. 5x versus MasTec, Inc. at 81. 3x. On forward P/E, Jacobs Solutions Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) delivered a total return of +270. 5%, compared to -15. 1% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTZ returned +1753% versus J's -13. 4%. 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), Jacobs Solutions Inc.

(J) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 22β versus MasTec, Inc. 's 1. 64β — meaning MTZ is approximately 34% more volatile than J relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 58% versus 84% for MasTec, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) is pulling ahead at 16. 2% versus 4. 6% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MasTec, Inc. grew EPS 146. 1% year-over-year, compared to -62. 3% for Jacobs Solutions Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTZ leads at 13. 5% 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.

MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 8% net margin versus 2. 4% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: J leads at 7. 2% versus 4. 6% for MTZ. 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, Jacobs Solutions Inc.

(J) trades at 17. 2x forward P/E versus 48. 6x for MasTec, Inc. — 31. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for J: 26. 2% to $154. 86.

In this comparison, J (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. MTZ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1753% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTZ: +1753%, J: -13. 4%), 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: J is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MTZ is a mid-cap high-growth stock. J pays a dividend while MTZ 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.