International Business Machines (IBM)vsPayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL)
IBM
International Business Machines
$241.39
+0.33%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $225.77B
PYPL
PayPal Holdings Inc
$44.85
+1.45%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $41.37B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
International Business Machines generates 104% more annual revenue ($67.53B vs $33.17B). PYPL leads profitability with a 15.8% profit margin vs 15.7%. PYPL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.69. PYPL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 78/100 (B+).
IBM
Strong Buy70
out of 100
Grade: B-
PYPL
Strong Buy78
out of 100
Grade: B+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+53.7%
Fair Value
$521.35
Current Price
$241.39
$279.96 discount
Margin of Safety
+82.3%
Fair Value
$253.19
Current Price
$44.85
$208.34 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
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
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 26 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 39.4% YoY
Generating 2.2B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Elevated debt levels
3.7% revenue growth
Distress zone — elevated risk
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 15.7% and operating margin at 24.8%. Revenue growth of 12.2% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : PYPL
The strongest argument for PYPL centers on P/E Ratio, Return on Equity, PEG Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.8% and operating margin at 17.5%. PEG of 0.69 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
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 : PYPL
The primary concerns for PYPL are Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
IBM profiles as a mature stock while PYPL is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
PYPL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.46 — 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.
Bottom Line
PYPL scores higher overall (78/100 vs 70/100), backed by strong 15.8% margins. IBM offers better value entry with a 53.7% 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.
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 →PayPal Holdings Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
PayPal Holdings, Inc. is an American company operating an online payments system in the majority of countries that support online money transfers, and serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods like checks and money orders. The company operates as a payment processor for online vendors, auction sites, and many other commercial users, for which it charges a fee.
Visit Website →Compare with Other INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Stocks
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