International Business Machines (IBM)vsSeagate Technology PLC (STX)
IBM
International Business Machines
$241.77
-3.43%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $226.88B
STX
Seagate Technology PLC
$411.23
-5.38%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $97.36B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
International Business Machines generates 571% more annual revenue ($67.53B vs $10.06B). STX leads profitability with a 19.6% profit margin vs 15.7%. STX appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.67. STX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 72/100 (B).
IBM
Strong Buy70
out of 100
Grade: B-
STX
Strong Buy72
out of 100
Grade: B
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+53.7%
Fair Value
$521.82
Current Price
$241.77
$280.05 discount
Margin of Safety
+1.9%
Fair Value
$415.12
Current Price
$411.23
$3.89 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
Earnings expanding 67.7% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Strong operational efficiency at 29.9%
Revenue surging 21.5% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Elevated debt levels
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 195.8x 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 15.7% and operating margin at 24.8%. Revenue growth of 12.2% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : STX
The strongest argument for STX centers on EPS Growth, Market Cap, Return on Equity. Profitability is solid with margins at 19.6% and operating margin at 29.9%. Revenue growth of 21.5% 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 : STX
The primary concerns for STX are P/E Ratio, Price/Book. A P/E of 49.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
IBM profiles as a mature stock while STX is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
STX carries more volatility with a beta of 1.65 — expect wider price swings.
STX is growing revenue faster at 21.5% — sustainability is the question.
IBM generates stronger free cash flow (3.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
STX scores higher overall (72/100 vs 70/100), backed by strong 19.6% margins and 21.5% revenue growth. 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 →Seagate Technology PLC
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Seagate Technology Holdings plc, an Irish public limited company (commonly referred to as Seagate) is an American data storage company.
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