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J vs. ULS: Jacobs vs. UL Stock Comparison

How do Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS) are both classified in the Research & Consulting Services sub-industry within the broader Professional Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Jacobs (J) carries decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, while UL (ULS) listed on April 12, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the J side.

Company profile comparison for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
Profile ItemJULS
NameJacobs Solutions Inc.UL Solutions Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesResearch & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization17.43 billion USD15.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980April 12, 2024
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

J
ULS
GSPC
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
Total Return (1Y)3.06%-3.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)13.63%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.41%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

J
ULS
GSPC
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.18%42.88%
Beta (5Y)0.680.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.44%-38.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)878.62K879.46K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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J and ULS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.04-0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.05-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 36.51% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Jacobs (J) at 8.00% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ULS.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.00%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
J
8.00%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.51%

Max
47.06%
ULS
36.51%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 16.13% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 2.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.38%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
J
2.38%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.13%

Max
23.28%
ULS
16.13%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 19.81% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 7.39%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.39%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
J
7.39%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.81%

Max
38.50%
ULS
19.81%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
ROE (TTM)8.00%36.51%
ROA (TTM)4.55%11.46%
Net Margin (TTM)2.38%16.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)7.39%19.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.07%50.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Jacobs (J) at 4.60% and UL (ULS) at 6.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

UL (ULS) at -1.23% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Jacobs (J) at -62.34% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.60%6.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.13%6.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)-62.34%-1.23%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-21.82%2.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Jacobs (J) at 1.29 and UL (ULS) at 2.09 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.29

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
J
1.29
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.09

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
ULS
2.09
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

UL (ULS) at 0.54 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Jacobs (J) at 1.25 uses more debt funding than most peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.25

Max
2.37
J
1.25
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.54

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
ULS
0.54
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.292.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.250.54
Net Debt / EBITDA2.72-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Jacobs (J) at 0.92% and UL (ULS) at 0.74% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.92%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
J
0.92%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.74%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
ULS
0.74%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 22.42% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Jacobs (J) at 45.18% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

45.18%

Max
99.58%
J
45.18%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.42%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
ULS
22.42%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.92%0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.18%22.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 31.21 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Jacobs (J) at 49.47 sits in the richer quartile — J needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

49.47

J
49.47
Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.21

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
ULS
31.21
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Jacobs (J) at 1.23 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while UL (ULS) at 4.98 sits in the pricier quartile — ULS costs more per dollar of sales.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.23

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
J
1.23
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.98

Max
7.17
ULS
4.98
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Jacobs (J) at 5.34 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while UL (ULS) at 9.32 carries an above-peer premium to book — ULS is pricier on assets.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.34

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
J
5.34
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.32

Max
11.25
ULS
9.32
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Jacobs (J) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Jacobs (J) and UL (ULS)
MetricJULS
P/E Ratio (TTM)49.4731.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.234.98
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.349.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.71%2.94%