American Electric Power Co Inc (AEP)vsInternational Business Machines (IBM)
AEP
American Electric Power Co Inc
$127.79
+0.58%
UTILITIES · Cap: $69.16B
IBM
International Business Machines
$284.84
-0.95%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $309.44B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
International Business Machines generates 207% more annual revenue ($68.91B vs $22.43B). AEP leads profitability with a 16.3% profit margin vs 15.6%. AEP appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.27. AEP earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 64/100 (C+).
AEP
Buy64
out of 100
Grade: C+
IBM
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 23.7%
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 33 in profit
Generating 4.8B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Distress zone — elevated risk
Moderate valuation
Trading at 8.1x book value
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AEP
The strongest argument for AEP centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.3% and operating margin at 23.7%. Revenue growth of 10.2% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull 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%.
Bear Case : AEP
The primary concerns for AEP are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, Free Cash Flow. Debt-to-equity of 1.63 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : IBM
The primary concerns for IBM are P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Piotroski F-Score. Debt-to-equity of 2.14 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
IBM carries more volatility with a beta of 0.58 — expect wider price swings.
AEP is growing revenue faster at 10.2% — sustainability is the question.
IBM generates stronger free cash flow (4.8B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
AEP scores higher overall (64/100 vs 57/100), backed by strong 16.3% margins and 10.2% revenue growth. Both earn "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.
American Electric Power Co Inc
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC · USA
American Electric Power (AEP) is a major investor-owned electric utility in the United States, delivering electricity to more than five million customers in 11 states.
Visit Website →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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