International Business Machines (IBM)vsMicrosoft Corporation (MSFT)
IBM
International Business Machines
$244.94
-0.85%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $243.66B
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
$530.61
-0.99%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $3.88T
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Microsoft Corporation generates 396% more annual revenue ($346.44B vs $69.87B). MSFT leads profitability with a 41.2% profit margin vs 16.0%. MSFT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.70. MSFT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 72/100 (B).
IBM
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
MSFT
Strong Buy72
out of 100
Grade: B
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 31 in profit
Earnings expanding 25.0% YoY
Generating 3.5B in free cash flow
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit
Keeps 41 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 49.8%
Generating 18.6B in free cash flow
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
4.7% revenue growth
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Moderate valuation
Trading at 8.4x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : IBM
The strongest argument for IBM centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, EPS Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.0% and operating margin at 17.0%.
Bull Case : MSFT
The strongest argument for MSFT centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 41.2% and operating margin at 49.8%. Revenue growth of 18.8% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : IBM
The primary concerns for IBM are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 1.89 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : MSFT
The primary concerns for MSFT are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
IBM profiles as a value stock while MSFT is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
MSFT carries more volatility with a beta of 1.10 — expect wider price swings.
MSFT is growing revenue faster at 18.8% — sustainability is the question.
MSFT generates stronger free cash flow (18.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
MSFT scores higher overall (72/100 vs 62/100), backed by strong 41.2% margins and 18.8% 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 →Microsoft Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - INFRASTRUCTURE · USA
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company which produces computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services. Its best known software products are the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers. Microsoft ranked No. 21 in the 2020 Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue; it was the world's largest software maker by revenue as of 2016. It is considered one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. information technology industry, along with Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook.
Visit Website →Compare with Other INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Stocks
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