# J Stock vs the S&P 500: Returns, Risk and Crash History

> Jacobs Solutions Inc., industrials (market value $18.7 billion), an S&P 500 member: how it compared with the S&P 500, how it behaved in every crash since 2008, its risk‑adjusted returns and what analysts said. Returns to Oct 30, 2026; analyst data as of Nov 9, 2026.

Source: https://www.exent.ai/stocks/j · Reviewed by David, Senior Analyst, Exent · Published Nov 11, 2026 · Updated Nov 11, 2026

**What changed since Nov 2, 2026:** 4 new ratings

## Key takeaways

- J returned +39.4% over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026 versus +75.9% for the S&P 500: it lagged the index.
- Its 5-year Sharpe ratio was 0.25 against 0.58 for the S&P 500.
- Its deepest crisis drawdown was −74.1% in the global financial crisis (2007–09) (S&P 500: −56.5%).
- Five‑year volatility was 26.1% and beta 0.68.
- 12 analysts rated it in the past year; 58% of their latest calls were Buy.
- J beat earnings estimates in 9 of its last 12 reports; the stock moved 5.5% on average, up or down, around each report.

## Did J beat the S&P 500?

Over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026, Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) returned **+39.4%** including dividends, versus **+75.9%** for the S&P 500 (SPY). It lagged the index by 36.5 percentage points, or +6.9% a year against +12.0%.

| Period | J | S&P 500 | J per year | S&P 500 per year | Result |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 year | +0.3% | +12.0% | +0.3% | +12.0% | Lagged |
| 3 years | +44.0% | +87.4% | +12.9% | +23.3% | Lagged |
| 5 years | +39.4% | +75.9% | +6.9% | +12.0% | Lagged |
| 10 years | +297.6% | +316.3% | +14.8% | +15.3% | Lagged |

Total return with dividends reinvested, from month-end prices to Oct 30, 2026. Beating the index on raw return is only half the story: the next section adjusts for the risk taken. See also [how to beat the S&P 500](https://www.exent.ai/beat-the-market).

J is in the [S&P 500](https://www.exent.ai/stocks/sp-500) (members as of Oct 20, 2026); the list shows every member’s return against the index.

## What Wall Street analysts say about J

In the 12 months to 30 days ago, 12 analysts published 172 ratings on J. Their latest calls were 58% Buy, 42% Hold and 0% Sell. 7 of them rank 4★ or higher in Exent’s analyst scoring, which is based on each analyst’s past price‑target hit rate and returns.

The consensus 12‑month price target was $164.71 (range $153.00–$174.00), +4.8% from the last price. Remember that the average analyst’s target is hit only about half the time: [how accurate are price targets?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/are-analyst-price-targets-accurate)

| Top‑ranked analyst covering | Firm | Stars | Price‑target hit rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Members only | Members only | 4.9★ | 58.8% |
| Members only | Members only | 4.9★ | 54.0% |
| [Jamie Cook](https://www.exent.ai/analysts/jamie-cook) | [Truist Financial](https://www.exent.ai/firms/truist-financial) | 4.9★ | 54.2% |
| [Adam Seiden](https://www.exent.ai/analysts/adam-seiden) | [Barclays](https://www.exent.ai/firms/barclays) | 4.7★ | 67.5% |
| [Sabahat Khan](https://www.exent.ai/analysts/sabahat-khan) | [RBC Capital](https://www.exent.ai/firms/rbc-capital) | 4.6★ | 52.5% |

Ratings are shown with a 30‑day delay. Who the top‑ranked analysts on J are, their live calls and the median target of only the top‑rated analysts are in [Exent Gems](https://www.exent.ai/radar).

The average analyst’s target is reached about 53.1% of the time; Exent Gems is built on the top 50 of Exent’s ranking,where some reached 90% or more over the last two years. [Unlock the top 50 analysts](https://www.exent.ai/radar).

## J returns by year vs the S&P 500

J beat the S&P 500 in 3 of the 9 full calendar years shown.

| Year | J | S&P 500 | Difference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 (to Oct 30, 2026) | +17.7% | +11.7% | +6.0% |
| 2025 | +1.1% | +17.7% | −16.6% |
| 2024 | +24.4% | +24.9% | −0.5% |
| 2023 | +9.2% | +26.2% | −17.0% |
| 2022 | −13.0% | −18.2% | +5.2% |
| 2021 | +28.7% | +28.7% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | +22.5% | +18.3% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | +55.2% | +31.2% | +24.0% |
| 2018 | −10.6% | −4.6% | −6.0% |
| 2017 | +17.0% | +21.7% | −4.7% |

## J risk-adjusted returns: Sharpe, Sortino and volatility

Over 5 years, J had a Sharpe ratio of **0.25** against 0.58 for the S&P 500, so it earned less return per unit of risk than the index. Its annualized volatility was 21.8% and its beta 0.68: it tended to move about 0.7× as much as the market.

| Metric | J | S&P 500 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual return | +6.9% | +12.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 15.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.25 | 0.58 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.36 | 0.91 |
| Max drawdown (month-end) | −23.2% | −23.9% |
| Beta to the S&P 500 | 0.68 | 1.00 |

[Sharpe](https://www.exent.ai/learn/sharpe-ratio) divides return above cash by total volatility; [Sortino](https://www.exent.ai/learn/sortino-ratio) counts only downside volatility. Both use monthly returns and the 1–3 month T‑bill ETF (BIL) as the risk‑free rate.

## How J behaved in past crashes

J’s deepest fall in the crises below was **−74.1%** in the global financial crisis (2007–09), against −56.5% for the S&P 500. The last column turns that into money: what a $100,000 position would have lost from peak to trough.

| Crisis | J | S&P 500 | Loss on $100,000 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Global financial crisis (2007–09) | −74.1% | −56.5% | −$74,140 |
| 2018 trade-war selloff | −31.7% | −20.2% | −$31,730 |
| COVID crash (Feb–Mar 2020) | −39.3% | −34.1% | −$39,330 |
| 2022 inflation bear market | −26.8% | −25.4% | −$26,770 |
| 2025 tariff selloff | −15.0% | −19.0% | −$15,040 |

| Window | J max drawdown |
| --- | --- |
| Last 1 year | −34.4% |
| Last 3 years | −34.4% |
| Last 5 years | −34.4% |
| Last 10 years | −39.3% |

Peak‑to‑trough declines from daily prices inside each crisis window. A crash replay does not predict the next crisis; it shows how much room a holding needs. Run the same replay on a whole portfolio with the [crash test](https://www.exent.ai/tools/crash-test).

## What moves with J, and what doesn’t

Correlation runs from −1 (moves opposite) to +1 (moves in lockstep). Over the last 60 months of monthly returns, J’s correlation with the S&P 500 was **0.48**, with the Nasdaq‑100 0.32, with long Treasuries (TLT) 0.22 and with gold (GLD) 0.12.

Adding a 5% J position to an S&P 500 portfolio would have moved its 5‑year volatility from 15.5% to 15.2%.

| Least correlated large caps | Correlation | Most correlated large caps | Correlation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | −0.08 |  | 0.60 |
|  | −0.07 |  | 0.57 |
|  | −0.04 |  | 0.56 |
|  | −0.04 |  | 0.55 |
|  | −0.03 |  | 0.55 |

Holdings that are highly correlated behave like one position in a selloff. See [how to find hidden overlap](https://www.exent.ai/resources/is-my-portfolio-diversified).

## Latest J upgrades, downgrades and price‑target changes

| Date | Rating and target | Analyst |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 5 | Target cut Hold Target $160, was $161 | [Jamie Cook](https://www.exent.ai/analysts/jamie-cook) Truist Financial |

Named analysts’ rating and price‑target changes on J in the 5 weeks to Oct 12, 2026, shown 30 days after publication (the free analysts’ calls 3 days after). The top‑ranked analysts’ calls are in [Exent Gems](https://www.exent.ai/radar). [See all of the latest analyst upgrades and downgrades](https://www.exent.ai/analysts/upgrades).

## Do analysts get J right?

Of the 228 analyst price targets on J set from 2019 until a year ago, **39.5%** were reached within 12 months (data to Oct 20, 2026), 29.1 points below the 68.6% hit rate of the median stock in Exent’s study of 794 stocks. Targets that were reached took a median of 174 days. The median target sat 33.5% above the share price on the day it was set.

Where analysts said J would be by now: a year ago, 9 analysts had a price target on J, and the median of their latest targets was **$156.00**. On Oct 20, 2026 J closed at $139.62, 10.5% below it.

- **39.5%** of targets reached within 12 months

- **174 days** median time to reach a target

- **−10.5%** price now vs the median target set a year ago

| After | Calls | Move on the call | 3 months vs S&P 500 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrades of J | 3 | +1.7% | −3.6% |
| Upgrades, all stocks | 11,514 | +2.5% | +3.4% |
| Downgrades of J | 6 | +1.3% | −0.6% |
| Downgrades, all stocks | 10,700 | −3.0% | −1.6% |

The move on the call runs from the close before the rating change to the close after it; the last column is the stock’s return minus the S&P 500’s over the next three months. Averages of rating changes on J through Sep 15, 2026; analysts are not named here. [Do analyst upgrades move stocks?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/do-analyst-upgrades-move-stocks)

## How J moves after earnings

J beat the consensus earnings‑per‑share estimate in **9 of its last 12** quarterly reports, through the one on Aug 4, 2026, and the revenue estimate in 5 of 12. From the close before each report to the close after it, the stock moved 5.5% on average, up or down, against 6.8% for the average report across the 1,002 US stocks Exent tracks. It rose after 4 of the 12 reports. In 5 of the 9 beats the stock still fell.

- **9/12** earnings beats

- **±5.5%** average move per report

- **4/12** reports followed by a rise

| Report | EPS vs estimate | Revenue vs estimate | Stock move |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aug 4, 2026 | $1.84 vs $1.83 | +0.5% | +4.3% |
| May 5, 2026 | $1.75 vs $1.63 | +2.2% | −3.2% |
| Feb 3, 2026 | $1.53 vs $1.52 | −27.1% | +4.7% |
| Nov 20, 2025 | $1.75 vs $1.68 | +0.3% | −11.2% |
| Aug 5, 2025 | $1.62 vs $1.53 | −1.3% | +5.0% |
| May 6, 2025 | $1.43 vs $1.37 | −3.0% | −5.8% |
| Feb 4, 2025 | $1.33 vs $1.29 | −2.2% | −4.7% |
| Nov 19, 2024 | $1.37 vs $1.54 | −74.2% | −5.6% |

Reported earnings per share against the consensus estimate, revenue surprise in percent, and the stock’s price change over the two sessions around the report. [How stocks move after earnings](https://www.exent.ai/resources/how-stocks-move-after-earnings)

## Where J’s revenue comes from

In fiscal 2025 (the year to Sep 26, 2025), J’s largest reported region was the United States, with 61.6% of its $12.0 billion revenue. By region: United States 61.6%; Europe 23.9%; Middle East and Africa 5.0%; Australia and New Zealand 4.8%.

By business, the largest segment was Infrastructure & Advanced Facilities, with 89.5% of $12.0 billion revenue.

| Segment | Revenue | Share | Growth |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Infrastructure & Advanced Facilities | $10.8 billion | 89.5% | — |
| PA Consulting | $1.3 billion | 10.5% | +7.5% |

From J’s annual filings; segment growth compares fiscal 2025 with the year before. Regions are as each company reports them, so one company’s “Asia Pacific” is not another’s. China counts the regions a company reports as China, Greater China or Hong Kong; a separately reported Taiwan is not counted. [Which S&P 500 companies depend most on China?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/sp-500-china-revenue-exposure)

## Members of Congress who traded J

As of Oct 20, 2026, **9 members of Congress** had disclosed 15 trades in J (7 buys and 6 sales) in STOCK Act disclosures filed with the House and Senate. The latest public trade is dated Feb 7, 2025.

| Trade date | Member | Type | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Feb 7, 2025 | [Tim Walberg](https://www.exent.ai/congress/tim-walberg) | Buy | $15,001–$50,000 |
| Sep 30, 2024 | [Thomas Kean](https://www.exent.ai/congress/thomas-kean) | Exchange | $1,001–$15,000 |
| Sep 30, 2024 | [Thomas Kean](https://www.exent.ai/congress/thomas-kean) | Exchange | $15,001–$50,000 |
| May 17, 2024 | [William Keating](https://www.exent.ai/congress/william-keating) | Sale | $1,001–$15,000 |
| Oct 24, 2023 | [Greg Stanton](https://www.exent.ai/congress/greg-stanton) | Sale | $1,001–$15,000 |
| Sep 26, 2023 | [Greg Stanton](https://www.exent.ai/congress/greg-stanton) | Buy | $1,001–$15,000 |
| Jul 7, 2022 | [David McKinley](https://www.exent.ai/congress/david-mckinley) | Sale | $1,001–$15,000 |
| Oct 28, 2021 | [Kim Schrier](https://www.exent.ai/congress/kim-schrier) | Sale | $15,001–$50,000 |
| Sep 3, 2021 | [Cynthia Lummis](https://www.exent.ai/congress/cynthia-lummis) | Buy | $1,001–$15,000 |
| Aug 30, 2021 | [Kurt Schrader](https://www.exent.ai/congress/kurt-schrader) | Buy | $1,001–$15,000 |

Amounts are the ranges members report, not exact values. The STOCK Act gives members up to 45 days to disclose a trade, so trades appear weeks after they are made. [See every member’s disclosed trades](https://www.exent.ai/congress)

## Are J insiders buying or selling?

In the 12 months to Oct 20, 2026, J insiders made **6 open‑market purchases** worth $813,528 by 4 insiders and **1 sale** worth $2.7 million, according to SEC Form 4 filings.

After the 13 insider purchases of $10,000 or more since 2012, J lagged the S&P 500 by an average of 4.4 percentage points over the next 12 months; 57% of them were followed by a beat. Across all 17,865 insider purchases in Exent’s study, the average was +17.2% and the median +1.0% against the index.

| Date | Insider | Role | Value |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| May 15, 2026 | Pragada Robert V | Director, officer: Chair & CEO | $400,035 |
| May 13, 2026 | Fernandez Manuel J | Director | $28,478 |
| May 8, 2026 | Fernandez Manuel J | Director | $49,137 |
| Nov 24, 2025 | Robertson Peter J | Director | $134,760 |
| Nov 24, 2025 | Nathamuni Venkatesh | Chief Financial Officer | $101,333 |

The table lists the latest open‑market purchases on record, leaving out the last 30 days. The chart counts Form 4 purchases and sales by calendar quarter. Purchases are open‑market buys; sales include planned sales under 10b5‑1 trading plans. [Do insider buys beat the market?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/do-insider-buys-beat-the-market)

## How much of J is sold short?

As of the Sep 30, 2026 settlement date, **3.46%** of J’s float was sold short: 4.0 million shares, or 4.5 days of average trading volume to cover. A year earlier (Oct 15, 2025) it was 2.23%. The median across the 997 US stocks Exent tracks was 4.77%, so J is less heavily shorted than most.

From FINRA short‑interest reports, filed twice a month; the bars show the short share of the float at each month‑end. Days to cover divides the shares short by the average daily volume. [The most shorted stocks](https://www.exent.ai/resources/most-shorted-stocks)

## How many institutions own J?

At the end of Q2 2026 (Jun 30, 2026), **893 institutions** reported holding J in 13F filings, down 35 from the quarter before and up from 853 a year earlier. Their reported holdings add up to 91.9% of J’s shares. In the quarter 370 institutions added to their positions and 367 cut them.

- **893** 13F holders

- **89** new positions

- **127** positions closed

- **91.9%** of shares held by 13F filers

Investment managers with over $100 million in US equities file 13F reports within 45 days of each quarter end, so this is the latest complete quarter. Holdings can add up to more than 100% when shares are lent and counted twice. [Which stocks institutions are buying and selling](https://www.exent.ai/resources/institutional-ownership-13f-changes)

## Is J diluting shareholders?

J’s diluted share count **fell 9.5%** over the five fiscal years to fiscal 2025 and fell 4.6% in fiscal 2025 alone. Each share now owns a larger slice of the company. The median change across the 1,005 US stocks Exent tracks was −0.1%.

Stock‑based compensation was $61.0 million in fiscal 2025, 0.5% of revenue. J spent $754.1 million buying back shares, a buyback yield of 4.20% of its market value; stock pay equaled 8.1% of the buybacks.

- **−4.6%** share count, 1 year

- **−9.5%** share count, 5 years

- **0.5%** stock pay as % of revenue

- **4.20%** buyback yield

Weighted‑average diluted shares from J’s annual income statements; stock‑based compensation and buybacks from its cash‑flow statement. [Stock dilution and stock‑based compensation, explained](https://www.exent.ai/resources/stock-dilution-and-stock-based-compensation)

## J financial health scores

In Exent’s Oct 20, 2026 snapshot, J’s Altman Z‑score was **2.77**, in the grey zone (where 149 of the 794 non‑financial US stocks Exent tracks sit). Its Piotroski F‑score was **6 out of 9**; 62% of scored stocks reach 6 or more.

- **2.77** Altman Z‑score: grey zone

- **6/9** Piotroski F‑score

The Altman Z‑score combines five balance‑sheet and earnings ratios into one bankruptcy‑risk score: below 1.81 is the distress zone, 1.81–2.99 grey, above 2.99 safe. It is not meaningful for banks, insurers and REITs. The Piotroski F‑score counts nine yes/no tests of profitability, leverage and efficiency; 8–9 is strong, 0–2 weak. Both come from the latest annual statements. [Which stocks have the highest bankruptcy risk?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/altman-z-score-bankruptcy-risk-stocks)

## What J talks about on earnings calls

On its latest earnings call (Aug 4, 2026), J’s executives and analysts mentioned AI **14 times**, against 24 on the call before (May 5, 2026); the average across 455 S&P 500 calls that quarter was 12.9. After AI, the most mentioned topic was data centers (18). Tariffs and recession did not come up.

| Mentions | Aug ’26 | May ’26 | Feb ’26 | Nov ’25 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AI | 14 | 24 | 31 | 8 |
| AI agents | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Data centers | 18 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
| Tariffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| China | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Recession | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Word counts in the full transcript of each call, prepared remarks and Q&A, newest first. “AI” also counts generative AI and large language models; “AI agents” counts agentic AI. [Which companies talk most about AI?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/ai-mentions-on-earnings-calls)

## Which ETFs hold J?

As of Oct 20, 2026, **49** of the 304 ETFs Exent tracks held J. Its largest weight is in PHO (Invesco Water Resources ETF), at 2.95% of the fund.

| ETF | Fund | Weight of J |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PHO | Invesco Water Resources ETF | 2.95% |
| PAVE | Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF | 1.00% |
| [VBR](https://www.exent.ai/etfs/vbr) | Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares | 0.36% |
| [SCHM](https://www.exent.ai/etfs/schm) | Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF | 0.34% |
| [XLI](https://www.exent.ai/etfs/xli) | State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.31% |
| VIS | Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ETF Shares | 0.24% |
| [VB](https://www.exent.ai/etfs/vb) | Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares | 0.20% |
| [RSP](https://www.exent.ai/etfs/rsp) | Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 0.20% |

Owning several of these funds stacks the same position. [How much do VOO, QQQ and VTI overlap?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/etf-overlap-voo-qqq-vti)

## How much is J’s CEO paid?

Robert V. Pragada, J’s Chief Executive Officer, received total pay of **$12.1 million** for fiscal 2024, up 11.2% from $10.9 million for fiscal 2023, according to the company’s [proxy statement](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/52988/000119312524279694/0001193125-24-279694-index.htm) filed with the SEC on Dec 16, 2024. 71% of it came as stock and option awards, valued when they were granted rather than when they pay out. The median CEO pay across the 378 S&P 500 companies Exent tracks was $17.2 million, so J’s CEO earned less than most.

| Pay component | Amount | Share of total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Salary | $1.3 million | 11.0% |
| Stock and option awards | $8.6 million | 71.2% |
| Incentive plan (cash) | $2.1 million | 17.5% |
| Other | $39,971 | 0.3% |

| Other top executives | Role | Total pay, 2024 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Steven J. Demetriou FY24 | Executive Chair | $5.4 million |
| Claudia Jaramillo | Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | $4.7 million |
| Joanne E. Caruso | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer | $3.4 million |
| Venk Nathamuni | Chief Financial Officer | $3.3 million |

Figures from the summary compensation table of the proxy statement; awards count at their grant‑date value, so one large multi‑year grant can make a single year stand out. [CEO pay across the S&P 500](https://www.exent.ai/resources/ceo-pay-sp-500)

## Does J get federal contracts?

In federal fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026), US government agencies obligated **$1.8 billion** in contracts to Jacobs Solutions Inc. and its units, according to USAspending.gov, up 32.5% from $1.3 billion the year before.

| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
| --- | --- |
| 2026 | $1.8 billion |
| 2025 | $1.3 billion |
| 2024 | $1.7 billion |
| 2023 | $1.6 billion |
| 2022 | $1.5 billion |

Contract obligations are what agencies committed in the year, not cash paid; every subsidiary and unit USAspending.gov lists under the parent company is rolled up into one total. [Which companies get the most federal contracts?](https://www.exent.ai/resources/companies-with-the-most-federal-contracts)

## The right benchmark for J

Exent matches every holding to the index with the most similar risk. For J that is **SPY** (the S&P 500). Comparing a holding with an index that carries very different risk makes good results look bad and risky ones look clever. Read [why the S&P 500 is the wrong benchmark for most portfolios](https://www.exent.ai/resources/why-the-sp-500-is-the-wrong-benchmark).

## Other industrials stocks

| Ticker | Name | 5‑year return | Volatility (5y) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. | — | — |
|  | GE Aerospace | +374.0% | 31.1% |
|  | RTX Corporation | +150.3% | 23.8% |
|  | Caterpillar Inc. | +231.6% | 32.4% |
|  | GE Vernova Inc. | — | — |
|  | Union Pacific Corporation | +41.0% | 22.6% |
|  | Deere & Company | +110.6% | 29.6% |
|  | Lockheed Martin Corporation | +119.1% | 23.0% |

## Data and methodology

Returns are total returns from month‑end adjusted closing prices (dividends reinvested) through Oct 30, 2026. Crisis drawdowns and trailing maximum drawdowns use daily prices. Analyst coverage counts ratings published in the last 12 months, shown with a 30‑day delay. Full method: [Exent methodology](https://www.exent.ai/methodology).

Company data as of Oct 20, 2026. The move around an earnings report runs from the close before it to the close after it; a price target counts as hit when the stock closed at or beyond it within 12 months (Exent analyst data). Revenue by region and segment, share counts and executive pay come from company filings; insider trades from SEC Form 4, short interest from FINRA, institutional ownership from 13F filings, Congress trades from STOCK Act disclosures filed with the House and Senate, federal contracts from USAspending.gov. Filings from the last 30 days are shown as counts only.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Historical figures are calculated by Exent from market data and are for education only; they are not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

## Check J with Exent Gems

Wall Street’s average J price target is 4.8% above the latest share price. See what the best‑ranked analysts on J say now in Exent Gems.

1. Exent ranks Wall Street analysts by their past price‑target hit rate and returns, and keeps the best‑ranked few.
2. Gems shows who the top‑ranked analysts covering J are, their live calls and the median target of only the top‑rated analysts.
3. Gems flags the stocks where several top‑ranked analysts agree: a starting point for your own research, not a promise.

Exent is our product: [Exent Gems](https://www.exent.ai/radar)

Also: [Stress‑test your portfolio with J](https://www.exent.ai/portfolio)

## Frequently asked questions

### Did J beat the S&P 500 over the last 10 years?

No. J returned +297.6% (+14.8% a year) over the 10 years to Oct 30, 2026, versus +316.3% (+15.3% a year) for the S&P 500, including dividends.

### Is J in the S&P 500?

Yes. As of Oct 20, 2026, J (Jacobs Solutions Inc.) is one of the 503 stocks in the S&P 500.

### How much did J fall in the 2008 crash?

J fell −74.1% from peak to trough during the global financial crisis (2007–09), versus −56.5% for the S&P 500.

### How much did J fall in the COVID crash?

J fell −39.3% from peak to trough during the covid crash (feb–mar 2020), versus −34.1% for the S&P 500.

### How much did J fall in the 2022 bear market?

J fell −26.8% from peak to trough during the 2022 inflation bear market, versus −25.4% for the S&P 500.

### What is J’s Sharpe ratio?

Over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026, J’s Sharpe ratio was 0.25 and its Sortino ratio 0.36, versus 0.58 and 0.91 for the S&P 500.

### Is J a volatile stock?

J’s 5‑year annualized volatility was 26.1%, higher than the S&P 500’s 17.0%, with a beta of 0.68.

### What is least correlated with J?

Among large US stocks, the lowest correlations with J over the last 60 months were SNOW (−0.08), CRWD (−0.07), FTNT (−0.04). Its correlation with long Treasuries (TLT) was 0.22 and with gold (GLD) 0.12.

### Does J usually beat earnings estimates?

J beat the consensus earnings-per-share estimate in 9 of its last 12 quarterly reports through Aug 4, 2026, and the revenue estimate in 5 of 12. The stock moved 5.5% on average, up or down, from the close before each report to the close after it.

### How much does J’s CEO make?

Robert V. Pragada, J’s Chief Executive Officer, received $12.1 million in total pay for fiscal 2024, including a $1.3 million salary and $8.6 million in stock and option awards valued at grant, according to the proxy statement filed with the SEC on Dec 16, 2024. The median S&P 500 CEO received $17.2 million.

### Have members of Congress traded J?

Yes. As of Oct 20, 2026, 9 members of Congress had disclosed 15 trades in J (7 buys and 6 sales) in STOCK Act disclosures filed with the House and Senate.

### What is J’s short interest?

As of the Sep 30, 2026 settlement date, 3.46% of J’s float was sold short (4.0 million shares, 4.5 days to cover), according to FINRA short-interest reports. A year earlier it was 2.23%.

### Is J diluting shareholders?

No. J’s diluted share count fell 9.5% over the five fiscal years to fiscal 2025 and fell 4.6% in the latest year. Stock-based compensation was 0.5% of revenue, and buybacks totaled $754.1 million.

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Educational content, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.