WallStSmart

International Business Machines (IBM)vsNasdaq Inc (NDAQ)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

International Business Machines generates 1172% more annual revenue ($68.91B vs $5.42B). NDAQ leads profitability with a 35.3% profit margin vs 15.6%. IBM appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.11. NDAQ earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 69/100 (B-).

IBM

Buy

60

out of 100

Grade: C

Growth: 5.3Profit: 7.5Value: 4.0Quality: 4.0
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 2.29

NDAQ

Strong Buy

69

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 7.3Profit: 8.5Value: 5.0Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 5/9
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

IBMSignificantly Overvalued (-28.7%)

Margin of Safety

-28.7%

Fair Value

$178.54

Current Price

$229.76

$51.22 premium

UndervaluedFair: $178.54Overvalued

Intrinsic value data unavailable for NDAQ.

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

IBM3 strengths · Avg: 9.3/10
Market CapQuality
$217.40B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
35.8%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 36 in profit

Free Cash FlowQuality
$4.78B8/10

Generating 4.8B in free cash flow

NDAQ4 strengths · Avg: 9.3/10
Profit MarginProfitability
35.3%10/10

Keeps 35 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
48.4%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 48.4%

Market CapQuality
$50.28B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

EPS GrowthGrowth
33.8%8/10

Earnings expanding 33.8% YoY

Areas to Watch

IBM3 concerns · Avg: 2.7/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.114/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
3/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Debt/EquityHealth
2.061/10

Elevated debt levels

NDAQ2 concerns · Avg: 4.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.324/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

P/E RatioValuation
26.8x4/10

Moderate valuation

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

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%.

Bull Case : NDAQ

The strongest argument for NDAQ centers on Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.3% and operating margin at 48.4%. Revenue growth of 13.7% 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 : NDAQ

The primary concerns for NDAQ are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

NDAQ carries more volatility with a beta of 0.99 — expect wider price swings.

NDAQ is growing revenue faster at 13.7% — 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

NDAQ scores higher overall (69/100 vs 60/100), backed by strong 35.3% margins and 13.7% 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.

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Nasdaq Inc

FINANCIAL SERVICES · FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES · USA

Nasdaq, Inc. is an American multinational financial services corporation that owns and operates stock exchanges in the United States and Europe. It is headquartered in New York City.

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