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Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM)

This page compares Accenture (ACN) with IBM (IBM) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Accenture (ACN) and IBM (IBM) are both classified in the IT Consulting & Other Services sub-industry within the broader IT Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

SymbolACNIBM
Company NameAccenture plcInternational Business Machines Corporation
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesIT Services
GICS Sub-IndustryIT Consulting & Other ServicesIT Consulting & Other Services
Market Capitalization109.47 billion USD237.76 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 19, 2001January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

ACN
IBM
Loading price history…
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
5-Day Price Return9.29%15.35%
13-Week Price Return-19.85%-1.29%
26-Week Price Return-27.30%-17.02%
52-Week Price Return-44.03%-3.03%
Month-to-Date Return0.29%9.52%
Year-to-Date Return-33.20%-14.60%
10-Day Avg. Volume6.65M8.09M
3-Month Avg. Volume6.47M6.37M
3-Month Volatility43.96%48.23%
Beta1.070.58

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 24.71% and IBM (IBM) at 35.53% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

24.71%

Max
62.31%
Q3
20.29%
Median
7.31%
Q1
-8.50%
Min
-50.67%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

35.53%

Max
62.31%
Q3
20.29%
Median
7.31%
Q1
-8.50%
Min
-50.67%
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 10.61% and IBM (IBM) at 15.60% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

10.61%

Max
44.20%
Q3
16.48%
Median
8.18%
Q1
-3.67%
Min
-28.43%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

15.60%

Max
44.20%
Q3
16.48%
Median
8.18%
Q1
-3.67%
Min
-28.43%
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 14.42% and IBM (IBM) at 15.32% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

14.42%

Max
46.75%
Q3
17.04%
Median
6.53%
Q1
-4.60%
Min
-34.31%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

15.32%

Max
46.75%
Q3
17.04%
Median
6.53%
Q1
-4.60%
Min
-34.31%
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
Return on Equity (TTM)24.71%35.53%
Return on Assets (TTM)11.74%7.13%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)10.61%15.60%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)14.42%15.32%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)32.03%58.36%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Accenture (ACN) at 1.34 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while IBM (IBM) at 0.80 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for IBM.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

1.34

Max
4.52
Q3
2.50
Median
1.64
Q1
1.13
Min
0.31

IBM

Software & Services industry group

0.80

Max
4.52
Q3
2.50
Median
1.64
Q1
1.13
Min
0.31
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Accenture (ACN) at 0.16 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while IBM (IBM) at 2.01 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

0.16

Max
2.69
Q3
1.27
Median
0.38
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00

IBM

Software & Services industry group

2.01

Max
2.69
Q3
1.27
Median
0.38
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) leads with Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 4,205.92, above its industry benchmark range, while IBM (IBM) at 45.57 also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

4,205.92

Max
45.58
Q3
11.44
Median
-0.40
Q1
-13.69
Min
-51.04

IBM

Software & Services industry group

45.57

Max
45.58
Q3
11.44
Median
-0.40
Q1
-13.69
Min
-51.04
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.340.80
Quick Ratio (MRQ)1.340.68
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.162.01
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)4,205.9245.57

Growth

Revenue Growth

Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)8.31%9.46%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)7.27%9.67%
3-Year Revenue CAGR4.19%3.72%
5-Year Revenue CAGR9.47%4.12%

EPS Growth

Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)3.97%14.24%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)0.71%94.45%
3-Year EPS CAGR4.31%83.85%
5-Year EPS CAGR9.02%12.36%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 3.57% and IBM (IBM) at 2.72% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

3.57%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

2.72%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 50.51% and IBM (IBM) at 58.43% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

50.51%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

58.43%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.57%2.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)50.51%58.43%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) at 14.17 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while IBM (IBM) at 21.46 sits around the industry midpoint — ACN has a lower trailing earnings multiple relative to peers, though the gap should be read alongside growth and earnings quality.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

14.17

Max
102.57
Q3
62.64
Median
31.77
Q1
14.20
Min
0.35

IBM

Software & Services industry group

21.46

Max
102.57
Q3
62.64
Median
31.77
Q1
14.20
Min
0.35
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) at 1.50 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while IBM (IBM) at 3.35 sits around the industry midpoint — ACN has a lower trailing revenue multiple relative to peers, though the gap should be read alongside growth and margins.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

1.50

Max
17.61
Q3
8.53
Median
4.13
Q1
2.23
Min
0.12

IBM

Software & Services industry group

3.35

Max
17.61
Q3
8.53
Median
4.13
Q1
2.23
Min
0.12
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 4.06 and IBM (IBM) at 6.91 post Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on book-value multiple.

ACN

Software & Services industry group

4.06

Max
20.48
Q3
9.90
Median
4.69
Q1
2.39
Min
0.32

IBM

Software & Services industry group

6.91

Max
20.48
Q3
9.90
Median
4.69
Q1
2.39
Min
0.32
Accenture (ACN) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolACNIBM
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)14.1721.46
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.503.35
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)4.066.91
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)8.6718.82