Willdan vs. Jacobs: Which Engineering Stock Has More Upside?

Core Insights - The U.S. infrastructure and public-sector spending environment is driving steady demand for engineering and technical consulting services, particularly benefiting companies like Willdan Group, Inc. and Jacobs Solutions Inc. due to policy-backed investment trends [2][3] Willdan Group, Inc. Insights - Willdan is focused on energy, utility, and municipal consulting, with a strong performance in energy transition and infrastructure modernization, supported by rising electricity load from data centers and grid upgrades [5][6] - The Energy segment, which is the majority of Willdan's revenues, saw contract revenues increase by 20% year over year to $508 million, and net revenues rose by 27% to $275 million during the first nine months of 2025 [6][10] - The company anticipates continued support from electricity load growth and infrastructure investment, positioning itself well for sustained growth as demand trends extend into 2026 [8] Jacobs Solutions Inc. Insights - Jacobs operates on a broader scale with diversified exposure across transportation, water, energy, and advanced facilities, benefiting from a record backlog of $23.1 billion, reflecting a 5.6% year-over-year increase [11][12] - The company has a trailing 12-month book-to-bill ratio of 1.1x, indicating strong booking activity, while gross profit in backlog increased by 13% year over year [12] - Jacobs faces challenges in parts of its environmental business due to softer U.S. demand and regulatory uncertainties, which may lead to variability in quarterly performance [13] Stock Performance & Valuation - Willdan's share price performance has outpaced Jacobs over the past six months, although Willdan is currently trading at a premium on a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio basis [17][18] - Willdan's earnings estimates for 2026 remain unchanged at $4.53 per share, indicating expected earnings growth of 9.6% year over year, while Jacobs' estimates are at $7.01 per share, reflecting a 14.5% growth [20][22] Final Comparison - Both companies benefit from U.S. infrastructure spending, but Willdan is more focused on energy-related activities, while Jacobs has broader diversification but faces more variability in project timing and funding [22][23] - Willdan's steadier demand drivers and favorable near-term outlook make it a more compelling investment compared to Jacobs, which has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [23]