International Business Machines (IBM)vsKLA Corporation (KLAC)
IBM
International Business Machines
$229.76
+0.06%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $217.40B
KLAC
KLA Corporation
$1,869.19
+6.01%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $230.33B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
International Business Machines generates 426% more annual revenue ($68.91B vs $13.10B). KLAC leads profitability with a 35.7% profit margin vs 15.6%. KLAC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.93. KLAC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 68/100 (B-).
IBM
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C
KLAC
Strong Buy68
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-29.8%
Fair Value
$178.18
Current Price
$229.76
$51.58 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for KLAC.
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 36 in profit
Generating 4.8B in free cash flow
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 95 in profit
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 41.2%
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Elevated debt levels
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 44.8x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : IBM
The strongest argument for IBM centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Free Cash Flow. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.6% and operating margin at 13.8%.
Bull Case : KLAC
The strongest argument for KLAC centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.7% and operating margin at 41.2%. Revenue growth of 11.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
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.
Bear Case : KLAC
The primary concerns for KLAC are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 50.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
KLAC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.50 — expect wider price swings.
KLAC is growing revenue faster at 11.5% — sustainability is the question.
IBM generates stronger free cash flow (4.8B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
KLAC scores higher overall (68/100 vs 60/100), backed by strong 35.7% margins and 11.5% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "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.
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.
Visit Website →KLA Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS · USA
KLA Corporation is a capital equipment company based in Milpitas, California. It supplies process control and yield management systems for the semiconductor industry and other related nanoelectronics industries. The company's products and services are intended for all phases of wafer, reticle, integrated circuit (IC) and packaging production, from research and development to final volume manufacturing.
Visit Website →Compare with Other INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?