STN

Industrials

Stantec Inc. · Engineering & Construction · $9B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
54.6
Good

Stantec Inc. scores 54.6/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Industrials Sector
STN
54.6
Sector avg
42.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Neutral
Valuation
Good

What is Stantec Inc.?

Stantec Inc. is a global professional services firm delivering engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting across infrastructure and facilities markets. Operating from its Edmonton headquarters, the company serves clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally across a wide range of project types.

Stantec generates revenue by providing consulting and technical services to public and private clients on complex infrastructure and facilities projects. Its teams cover the full project lifecycle — from environmental assessment and planning through detailed engineering design and project management. The firm earns fees across transportation, water, energy, and buildings markets, with a business model built on long-term client relationships and a diversified geographic footprint rather than any single end market.

Stantec traces its roots to 1954 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada.

  • Infrastructure engineering and project management
  • Environmental sciences and compliance consulting
  • Architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture
  • Transportation planning, analytics, and technical design
  • Water, power, and energy sector advisory services

Is STN a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates STN as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile across its five quality pillars.

Stantec's Quality and Valuation pillars both register as Good, suggesting the business generates earnings in a reasonably consistent manner and that the current market price is not stretched relative to fundamentals. These two pillars anchor the overall rating and distinguish Stantec from peers that may trade at more elevated valuations.

The Moat pillar registers as Weak, indicating that Stantec's competitive advantages are not yet clearly differentiated at a structural level — a common challenge in the fragmented professional services industry.

Sign up to see the full pillar breakdown and the underlying financial metrics driving each score. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does STN pay dividends?

Yes — Stantec Inc. pays a dividend.

Stantec pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among professional services firms of its size. The dividend reflects the company's ability to generate recurring fee-based cash flows. Income-oriented investors may find the dividend cadence appealing, though the payout should be evaluated alongside the company's reinvestment needs for acquisitions and organic growth.

When does STN report earnings?

Stantec reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for TSX- and NYSE-listed companies.

Stantec's recent results have reflected steady demand for infrastructure consulting services, supported by public-sector spending trends in North America. Revenue diversification across geographies and end markets has helped moderate volatility in any single reporting period.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance commentary, visit Stantec's investor relations page directly.

STN Price History

+110.7% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Stantec Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$20,267
That's a +103% total return, or +15.2% annualized.

Based on Stantec Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

STN Long-term Outlook

Stantec's Growth pillar is rated Neutral and its Risk pillar is also Neutral, pointing to a steady but not accelerating fundamental trajectory. The firm is positioned to benefit from long-cycle infrastructure investment programs in North America, though growth is likely to be measured rather than rapid. The Valuation pillar rating of Good suggests the market has not priced in an aggressive growth premium, which may provide some downside cushion if growth disappoints.

Growth drivers

  • Sustained public infrastructure spending in Canada and the United States
  • Expansion of environmental and energy-transition consulting demand
  • Bolt-on acquisitions extending geographic and service-line reach

Key risks

  • Fragmented competitive landscape limiting pricing power
  • Project delays or budget cuts by government clients
  • Integration risk from an acquisition-driven growth strategy

STN vs Peers

Stantec operates in a competitive professional and technical services market alongside several publicly listed peers.

IESCSTN scores lower
IES Holdings, Inc.

IES Holdings focuses on electrical and technology systems contracting, giving it a more execution-oriented model compared to Stantec's consulting-led approach.

ACMSTN scores higher
Aecom

Aecom is a larger global infrastructure firm with a broader program management and construction management footprint, competing directly with Stantec on major public-sector mandates.

BLDSTN scores higher
TopBuild Corp.

TopBuild operates in building products installation rather than consulting, making it a tangential competitor that reflects broader construction-cycle exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stantec do?

Stantec provides engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting services for infrastructure and facilities projects. Its work spans transportation, water, energy, and buildings markets, serving both public-sector agencies and private clients across Canada, the United States, and internationally.

Does STN pay dividends?

Yes, Stantec pays a regular dividend. This is supported by the company's recurring fee-based revenue model. Investors should review the current dividend rate and payout history on Stantec's investor relations page, as amounts can change with board decisions.

When does STN report earnings?

Stantec reports on a quarterly cadence. Specific dates are announced in advance through the company's investor relations page and major financial data providers. We do not publish projected earnings dates — check the official IR page for the most current schedule.

Is STN a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates STN as Good overall. The Quality and Valuation pillars are both rated Good, while the Moat pillar is rated Weak. Whether that profile fits your portfolio depends on your own investment criteria. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members on UQS Score.

Is STN overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for STN is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at a stretched premium relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation is one of five pillars — see the complete analysis on UQS Score for the full picture.

How does STN compare to its competitors?

Stantec competes with firms like Aecom in global infrastructure consulting and faces broader sector competition from companies such as IES Holdings and TopBuild. Stantec's consulting-led model and geographic diversification distinguish it, though its Moat pillar rating of Weak reflects the competitive intensity of the professional services market.

What is STN's market cap bracket?

Stantec is classified as a large-cap company. This places it among the more established publicly traded professional services firms in North America, with the scale to pursue significant acquisitions and compete for major infrastructure mandates.

Who founded Stantec?

Stantec was founded in 1954 — originally operating as Stanley Technology Group Inc. before rebranding to Stantec Inc. in October 1998. The company is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. Further founding history is available through Stantec's official corporate website.

Is STN a long-term quality stock?

From a quality-indicator perspective, STN's Good overall UQS Score reflects consistent earnings characteristics and reasonable valuation. The Weak Moat rating is worth monitoring over a long horizon, as durable competitive advantages tend to matter more for sustained compounding. Pro members can view the full pillar trend data.

What is the main competitive advantage of Stantec?

Stantec's primary advantages lie in its geographic diversification, long-standing client relationships, and broad service-line coverage across the infrastructure lifecycle. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates these advantages as Weak relative to sector peers, reflecting the fragmented and competitive nature of professional consulting.

What sector does STN belong to?

Stantec is classified in the Industrials sector, specifically within professional and technical services. Its revenues are tied to infrastructure investment cycles, making it sensitive to government capital budgets and broader construction activity in North America and internationally.

Is STN a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, STN's Growth pillar is Neutral and its Valuation pillar is Good — a profile that leans more toward value-oriented characteristics than high-growth positioning. It may appeal to investors seeking steady, fee-based businesses at a reasonable price rather than rapid earnings expansion.

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Pro Analysis

STN — Score History

45505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 19 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 22, 202654.663.932.055.151.379.6-0.3
May 21, 202654.964.332.055.051.380.60.0
May 14, 202654.968.232.056.445.278.9+0.9
May 12, 202654.067.032.056.545.274.5+0.2
May 11, 202653.866.832.056.545.273.6-0.1
May 9, 202653.966.832.056.645.274.3+0.4
May 7, 202653.566.532.056.645.271.40.0
May 4, 202653.566.532.056.645.271.6+0.1
May 3, 202653.466.532.056.545.271.4-0.2
Apr 26, 202653.666.532.056.545.272.2+0.1

STN — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

63.9/100 (25%)

Stantec Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityStrong

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityModerate

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityModerate

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

54.8/100 (20%)

Stantec Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendModerate

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRModerate

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

51.3/100 (15%)

Stantec Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Financial LeverageModerate

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageModerate

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

79.5/100 (15%)

Stantec Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldModerate

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

32/100 (25%)

Stantec Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for STN.

Score Composition

Quality
63.9×25%16.0
Growth
54.8×20%11.0
Risk
51.3×15%7.7
Valuation
79.5×15%11.9
Moat
32.0×25%8.0
Total
54.6Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the STN UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Stantec Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Stantec Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Stantec Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.