International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) vs QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM)
QCOM leads on 10 of 17 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of International Business Machines Corporation and QUALCOMM Incorporated across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation
$272.24Technology
QCOM
QUALCOMM Incorporated
$211.72Technology
Total return — IBM vs QCOM
growth of $100 · last 30yIBM +1004.0%QCOM +6751.8%QCOM compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
IBM QCOM
IBM vs QCOM: by the numbers
- •IBM is the larger company ($255.87B vs $223.15B market cap).
- •QCOM trades at the lower earnings multiple (22.72 vs 24.07 P/E).
- •QCOM converts more revenue to profit (22.31% vs 15.61% net margin).
- •QCOM grew revenue faster over the past five years (8.63% vs -0.09% CAGR).
- •IBM pays the higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 1.70%).
Which is better, IBM or QCOM?
Metric tally: IBM 7 · QCOM 10It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueQCOM(lower P/E)
GrowthQCOM(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeIBM(higher dividend yield)
QualityQCOM(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | IBM | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 24.07 | 22.72● |
| Forward P/E | 20.33 | 19.72● |
| P/S ratio | 3.76● | 5.10 |
| P/B ratio | 7.86● | 8.32 |
| PEG ratio | 0.35● | 3.96 |
| EV / EBITDA | 19.54 | 17.18● |
| FCF yield | 5.05% | 5.51%● |
Profitability
| Metric | IBM | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 58.97%● | 54.80% |
| Operating margin | 16.36% | 25.52%● |
| Net margin | 15.61% | 22.31%● |
| ROE | 32.61% | 36.38%● |
| ROIC | 8.57% | 13.15%● |
Dividends
| Metric | IBM | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.47%● | 1.70% |
| Payout ratio | 59.24% | 70.95% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | IBM | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -0.09% | 8.63%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 12.59%● | 5.74% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -3.35% | 9.39%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 18.04%● | 11.87% |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, IBM or QCOM?
- It depends on your goal. value: QCOM (lower P/E); growth: QCOM (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: IBM (higher dividend yield); quality: QCOM (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, QCOM leads 10 to 7.
- Is IBM or QCOM cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, QCOM is cheaper: IBM trades at a 24.07 P/E and QCOM at 22.72.
- Which has grown faster, IBM or QCOM?
- Over the past five years, QCOM grew revenue faster — IBM at a -0.09% CAGR versus QCOM at 8.63%.
- Does IBM or QCOM pay a bigger dividend?
- IBM yields 2.47% and QCOM yields 1.70% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is IBM or QCOM more profitable?
- QCOM runs the higher net margin — IBM at 15.61% versus QCOM at 22.31%.
- Which has been the better investment, IBM or QCOM?
- Over the past 10-year, QCOM delivered the higher annualized total return — IBM at 11.01% versus QCOM at 17.83%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
International Business Machines P/E ratioQUALCOMM P/E ratioInternational Business Machines dividend yieldQUALCOMM dividend yieldInternational Business Machines ROEQUALCOMM ROEInternational Business Machines operating marginQUALCOMM operating marginInternational Business Machines revenue growthQUALCOMM revenue growthInternational Business Machines free cash flowQUALCOMM free cash flow
International Business Machines & QUALCOMM appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.