American Express Company (AXP)vsInternational Business Machines (IBM)
AXP
American Express Company
$300.24
-0.58%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $208.03B
IBM
International Business Machines
$241.39
+0.33%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $225.77B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
International Business Machines generates 1% more annual revenue ($67.53B vs $66.97B). AXP leads profitability with a 16.2% profit margin vs 15.7%. AXP appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.52. IBM earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 70/100 (B-).
AXP
Strong Buy66
out of 100
Grade: B-
IBM
Strong Buy70
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+41.4%
Fair Value
$512.74
Current Price
$300.24
$212.50 discount
Margin of Safety
+53.7%
Fair Value
$521.35
Current Price
$241.39
$279.96 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 34 in profit
Generating 2.3B in free cash flow
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 35 in profit
Earnings expanding 89.9% YoY
Strong operational efficiency at 24.8%
Generating 3.1B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Distress zone — elevated risk
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Elevated debt levels
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AXP
The strongest argument for AXP centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Free Cash Flow. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.2% and operating margin at 17.5%. Revenue growth of 10.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
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 : AXP
The primary concerns for AXP are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score. Debt-to-equity of 1.73 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
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
AXP carries more volatility with a beta of 1.15 — 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.
Monitor CREDIT SERVICES industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
IBM scores higher overall (70/100 vs 66/100), backed by strong 15.7% margins and 12.2% revenue growth. AXP offers better value entry with a 41.4% 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.
American Express Company
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
The American Express Company is a multinational financial services corporation headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City.
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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