Jacobs Solutions Reports Strong Earnings, Surpassing Expectations

Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J) announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, revealing that the company earned $1.33 per share (EPS) for the quarter. This figure exceeded analysts' consensus estimates, which predicted the EPS would be $1.29, marking a positive surprise of $0.04. The company achieved a net margin of 5.16% and a return on equity of 14.82% during this period.

Market Performance of Jacobs Solutions

On the trading day of the earnings announcement, Jacobs Solutions' shares opened at $138.80. The company's overall market capitalization stands at $17.21 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21.93 and a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 2.11. Notably, Jacobs Solutions has a beta of 0.72, indicating lower volatility compared to the broader market. Over the past twelve months, the stock price has fluctuated between a low of $110.95 and a high of $150.54. The company maintains liquidity with a quick ratio and current ratio of 1.20 each and has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Its fifty-day simple moving average is $136.78, while the two-hundred day simple moving average is $141.36.

Dividend Announcement

Additionally, Jacobs Solutions announced an increase in its quarterly dividend, which is set to be paid on March 21st. Shareholders on record as of February 21st will receive a dividend of $0.32, which translates to an annualized amount of $1.28 and a dividend yield of 0.92%. This dividend is an increase from the previous quarterly payment of $0.29. Currently, Jacobs Solutions has a payout ratio of 18.33%.

Analysts' Ratings and Target Prices

Recent analyses from various research firms have provided insights into Jacobs Solutions' stock ratings. Goldman Sachs maintains a "neutral" outlook with a target price of $150.00 for the stock as of December 10th. Conversely, Citigroup has lowered its target price from $161.00 to $160.00 while suggesting a "buy" rating. Truist Financial recently increased its price target from $137.00 to $142.00 while rating the company as a hold. StockNews.com has also initiated coverage with a hold rating. A report from Benchmark downgraded Jacobs Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in late November. Overall, there is a mixed sentiment on Jacobs Solutions as six analysts rated it as a hold and six as a buy, resulting in a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $156.00 according to MarketBeat data.

About Jacobs Solutions

Jacobs Solutions Inc. provides diverse services that include consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery for both government and private sectors globally. The company operates through segments such as Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting, serving various regions including the United States, Europe, and Asia.

earnings, stocks, dividend