WallStSmart

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp Class A (CTSH)vsInternational Business Machines (IBM)

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Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

International Business Machines generates 220% more annual revenue ($67.53B vs $21.11B). IBM leads profitability with a 15.7% profit margin vs 10.6%. CTSH appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.00. CTSH earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 71/100 (B).

CTSH

Strong Buy

71

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 5.3Profit: 7.5Value: 10.0Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 2/9

IBM

Strong Buy

70

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 6.7Profit: 8.0Value: 10.0Quality: 4.0
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 2.29
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

CTSHUndervalued (+63.3%)

Margin of Safety

+63.3%

Fair Value

$193.09

Current Price

$60.29

$132.80 discount

UndervaluedFair: $193.09Overvalued
IBMUndervalued (+52.0%)

Margin of Safety

+52.0%

Fair Value

$521.35

Current Price

$251.60

$269.75 discount

UndervaluedFair: $521.35Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

CTSH4 strengths · Avg: 8.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
1.008/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

P/E RatioValuation
13.4x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
1.9x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

EPS GrowthGrowth
22.1%8/10

Earnings expanding 22.1% YoY

IBM5 strengths · Avg: 9.2/10
Market CapQuality
$233.90B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
35.2%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 35 in profit

EPS GrowthGrowth
89.9%10/10

Earnings expanding 89.9% YoY

Operating MarginProfitability
24.8%8/10

Strong operational efficiency at 24.8%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$3.13B8/10

Generating 3.1B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

CTSH2 concerns · Avg: 3.5/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
4.9%4/10

4.9% revenue growth

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
2/93/10

Weak financial health signals

IBM3 concerns · Avg: 2.7/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.314/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
3/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Debt/EquityHealth
2.061/10

Elevated debt levels

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : CTSH

The strongest argument for CTSH centers on PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 1.00 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bull Case : IBM

The strongest argument for IBM centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, EPS Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.7% and operating margin at 24.8%. Revenue growth of 12.2% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : CTSH

The primary concerns for CTSH are Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score.

Bear Case : IBM

The primary concerns for IBM are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 2.06 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

CTSH profiles as a value stock while IBM is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.

CTSH carries more volatility with a beta of 0.98 — expect wider price swings.

IBM is growing revenue faster at 12.2% — sustainability is the question.

IBM generates stronger free cash flow (3.1B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

CTSH scores higher overall (71/100 vs 70/100). IBM offers better value entry with a 52.0% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp Class A

TECHNOLOGY · INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES · USA

Cognizant is an American multinational technology company that provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. It is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States.

International Business Machines

TECHNOLOGY · INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES · USA

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Armonk, New York, with operations in over 170 countries. The company began in 1911, founded in Endicott, New York, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and was renamed International Business Machines in 1924. IBM is incorporated in New York. IBM produces and sells computer hardware, middleware and software, and provides hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. IBM is also a major research organization, holding the record for most annual U.S. patents generated by a business (as of 2020) for 28 consecutive years. Inventions by IBM include the automated teller machine (ATM), the floppy disk, the hard disk drive, the magnetic stripe card, the relational database, the SQL programming language, the UPC barcode, and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). The IBM mainframe, exemplified by the System/360, was the dominant computing platform during the 1960s and 1970s.

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