Jacobs Appointed Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management Lead for Hut 8 AI Data Center

Rhea-AI Summary

Jacobs (NYSE: J) has been selected by Hut 8 (NASDAQ: HUT) to provide Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for the River Bend AI data center in Louisiana.

The facility is leased under a 15-year, $7.0 billion lease for 245 MW of IT capacity and anchors a larger planned AI campus. The initial data hall is scheduled for completion and commissioning in Q1 2027, with additional halls coming online through 2027. Jacobs cites its global scale (~$12 billion revenue, ~43,000 staff) and recent delivery experience on large advanced facilities.

Positive

• Signed a 15-year lease valued at $7.0 billion
• Project provides 245 MW of IT capacity
• Initial data hall targeted for completion in Q1 2027
• Leverages Jacobs scale: ~$12 billion revenue and ~43,000 staff

Negative

• Project subject to forward-looking risks including timing and funding
• Outcome may be affected by legislative or tax changes referenced by management

Key Figures

River Bend lease value: $7.0 billion IT capacity: 245 megawatts Lease term: 15 years +5 more

8 metrics

River Bend lease value $7.0 billion 15-year lease for 245 MW IT capacity at River Bend data center

IT capacity 245 megawatts River Bend data center IT capacity under Hut 8 lease

Lease term 15 years Lease duration for River Bend data center

Initial data hall timing Q1 2027 Scheduled completion and commissioning of initial River Bend data hall

Cell culture facility value $3.2B End-to-end cell culture facility, largest of its kind in North America

SINES DC Campus scale 1.2 gigawatts AI scale data center at Start Campus’s SINES DC Campus in Portugal

Annual revenue $12 billion Jacobs company description in release

Employee count 43,000 Jacobs talent force cited in company description

Market Reality Check

Price: $141.50 Vol: Volume 603,394 is below 2...

low vol

$141.50 Last Close

Volume Volume 603,394 is below 20-day average 896,292 (relative 0.67x). low

Technical Price $136.80 is trading slightly below 200-day MA at $137.75.

Peers on Argus

J fell 0.63% while key peers were mixed: ACM -0.97%, STN -1.59%, APG -0.27%, ver...

J fell 0.63% while key peers were mixed: ACM -0.97%, STN -1.59%, APG -0.27%, versus MTZ +0.74% and FIX +0.63%. With no peers in the momentum scanner and no same-day peer headlines, trading appears more stock-specific than part of a broad sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 05	Acquisition agreement	Positive	+2.6%	Agreed to acquire remaining stake in PA Consulting with cash and stock mix.
Nov 26	Infrastructure contract win	Positive	+1.7%	Selected for Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project as independent certifier.
Nov 25	Program management award	Positive	+0.5%	Chosen to manage multi-phase utility infrastructure program near El Paso airport.
Nov 20	Earnings results	Positive	-10.9%	Reported strong FY25 revenue, EPS growth and record backlog with FY26 outlook.
Nov 19	Strategic project award	Positive	-3.8%	Appointed owner’s representative for PsiQuantum’s new quantum computing facility.

Pattern Detected

Recent project and M&A announcements often saw positive alignment, but the latest strong earnings release coincided with a notable negative divergence.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Jacobs reported solid FY25 results with gross revenue of $12.03B, adjusted EPS of $6.12, and a record $23.1B backlog, yet the stock dropped 10.95% after earnings. By contrast, contract wins in Australia, El Paso, and a quantum facility for PsiQuantum generally coincided with modest gains or smaller declines. The recent agreement to acquire the remaining stake in PA Consulting was followed by a 2.59% rise. Today’s AI-focused EPCM award for Hut 8 fits the pattern of strategic, technology-oriented infrastructure wins.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Jacobs’ expanding role in AI and high-performance computing infrastruct...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Jacobs’ expanding role in AI and high-performance computing infrastructure, adding the Hut 8 River Bend EPCM mandate to a portfolio that includes a $3.2B cell culture facility and a 1.2 gigawatt AI-scale campus. Combined with prior quantum computing and rail program wins, it reinforces a strategy focused on complex, technology-driven projects. Investors may watch for updates on project timing, execution milestones into 2027, and how these wins translate into backlog mix and margins.

Key Terms

engineering, procurement and construction management, epcm, high-performance computing, quantum computing, +2 more

6 terms

engineering, procurement and construction management technical

"to deliver Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services"

A project delivery approach where a firm handles detailed design, sources major equipment and materials, and oversees construction on behalf of the project owner, acting like the owner’s project manager. It matters to investors because the firm’s performance determines whether a project is built on time, on budget and to specification—similar to hiring a general contractor for a house, where delays or cost overruns directly affect returns, cash flow and project risk.

epcm technical

"to deliver Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services"

EPCM stands for engineering, procurement and construction management, a contract model where a firm designs a project, buys major equipment and manages contractors rather than doing the actual building work itself. For investors, an EPCM arrangement matters because it usually keeps the project owner more directly responsible for contractor costs, schedules and on-site risks, which can affect budget certainty, timelines and the likelihood of delays or cost overruns. Think of it as hiring an architect and general manager who arranges and oversees the builders rather than having a single company deliver the whole job.

high-performance computing technical

"largest AI and high-performance computing developments in North America"

A cluster of very powerful computers, special chips and fast networks designed to tackle huge, complex calculations far faster than a normal PC — like replacing a single delivery van with a synchronized fleet to move a city’s worth of packages. For investors, high-performance computing matters because it enables faster product development, more accurate simulations and data analysis, and new revenue streams for hardware, software and services, making firms that supply or use it potentially more competitive and scalable.

quantum computing technical

"delivering quantum computing programs for PsiQuantum in Chicago and Brisbane"

Quantum computing is a type of advanced technology that uses the principles of quantum physics to perform calculations much faster than traditional computers. It can process vast amounts of information simultaneously, potentially solving complex problems that are currently impossible or take too long with regular computers. For investors, this technology could lead to breakthroughs in areas like cryptography, data analysis, and optimization, impacting financial markets and security systems.

digital twins technical

"through NVIDIA's Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins."

Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical objects, systems, or processes that simulate their real-world counterparts in real time. They allow users to monitor, analyze, and predict how the actual entity will behave under different conditions. For investors, digital twins can provide valuable insights into performance and potential risks, helping to make better-informed decisions.

forward-looking statements regulatory

"Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements"

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Advancing high-performance computing infrastructure in North America

DALLAS, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE: J) has been selected by Hut 8 (NASDAQ: HUT), an energy infrastructure platform, to deliver Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for its River Bend data center in Louisiana.

The data center is leased under a 15-year, $7.0 billion lease for 245 megawatts of IT capacity and anchors a larger planned campus that is poised to become one of the largest AI and high-performance computing developments in North America. The region's power dense utility infrastructure enables reliable, high-quality delivery with the speed, flexibility and consistency required at this scale.

Jacobs Chair and CEO Bob Pragada said: "Jacobs brings decades of excellence, delivering complex advanced facilities and critical infrastructure for some of the world's largest data center, semiconductor and life sciences clients. Our collaboration with Hut 8 reflects a shared commitment to setting a new benchmark for AI infrastructure – with safety, quality and disciplined delivery at the forefront."

Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot said: "Execution discipline is critical at the scale and complexity of River Bend. We believe Jacobs brings the experience and rigor required to deliver complex infrastructure on schedule and to the highest standards of quality and safety. Their role as EPCM partner reinforces a partnership-driven execution model designed to de-risk delivery and establish a repeatable framework as we scale across our broader development pipeline."

The initial data hall at River Bend is scheduled for completion and commissioning in Q1 2027, with additional data halls scheduled to come online over the balance of 2027.

Jacobs delivers high value, advanced manufacturing for data centers, semiconductors and life sciences – including the recent $3.2B end-to-end cell culture facility, the largest of its kind in North America. This award further expands our data center portfolio where we're providing EPCM services for a confidential high performance computing facility in the Southeastern U.S., delivering quantum computing programs for PsiQuantum in Chicago and Brisbane, and advancing AI ready infrastructure through NVIDIA's Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins. At Start Campus's SINES DC Campus in Portugal, we are delivering a 1.2-gigawatt AI scale data center powered entirely by renewable energy and cooled with a zero-water system, underscoring Jacobs' ability to support the next generation of sustainable, high density compute environments.

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow – delivering outcomes and solutions for the world's most complex challenges. With approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and a talent force of almost 43,000, we provide end-to-end services in advanced manufacturing, cities & places, energy, environmental, life sciences, transportation and water. From advisory and consulting, feasibility, planning, design, program and lifecycle management, we're creating a more connected and sustainable world. See how at jacobs.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook. 

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current fact. When used herein, words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "plans," "intends," "future," "will," "would," "could," "can," "may," and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations, as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, uncertainties as to, the timing of the award of projects and funding and potential changes to the amounts provided for under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other legislation and executive orders related to governmental spending, including any directive to federal agencies to reduce federal spending or the size of the federal workforce, and changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws, including the tax legislation enacted in the U.S. in July 2025, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances, including the impact of, and changes to tariffs and retaliatory tariffs or trade policies, that may adversely impact our future financial positions or results of operations, as well as general economic conditions, including inflation and the actions taken by monetary authorities in response to inflation, changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, changes in capital markets, the possibility of a recession or economic downturn, and increased uncertainty and risks, including policy risks and potential civil unrest, relating to the outcome of elections across our key markets and elevated geopolitical tension and conflicts, among others. For a description of these and additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

For press/media inquiries:
media@jacobs.com  

 

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SOURCE Jacobs

FAQ

What did Jacobs announce about the River Bend AI data center (NYSE: J)?

Jacobs was selected as EPCM lead for Hut 8's River Bend data center in Louisiana.

How large is the River Bend commitment and what capacity does it cover for HUT?

The site is leased under a 15-year, $7.0 billion lease covering 245 MW of IT capacity.

When is the River Bend initial data hall expected to be completed (J/HUT)?

The initial data hall is scheduled for completion and commissioning in Q1 2027.

What experience and scale does Jacobs cite to support the River Bend award (J)?

Jacobs cites recent large facility deliveries and its scale of about $12 billion revenue and ~43,000 staff.

Does the announcement note risks that could affect the River Bend project timeline or costs?

Yes; management warned of forward-looking uncertainties including timing, funding, legislative and economic factors.