APP vs. IBM: AppLovin vs. IBM Stock Comparison
How do AppLovin (APP) and IBM (IBM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
AppLovin (APP) and IBM (IBM) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but APP is classified in Software while IBM is classified in IT Services.
IBM (IBM) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas AppLovin (APP) listed on April 15, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock | International Business Machines Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | IT Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | IT Consulting & Other Services |
| Market Capitalization | 160.27 billion USD | 255.30 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2021 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 37.31% | -4.57% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
AppLovin (APP) has a highly aggressive beta of 2.51, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while IBM (IBM) is defensive at 0.69 and tends to be less market-sensitive — a wide gap in beta profiles.
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 71.28% | 40.51% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.51 | 0.69 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.88M | 8.46M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but AppLovin (APP) at 266.44% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; IBM (IBM) at 35.77% also sits in the top quartile.
APP
Software & Services industry group
266.44%
- APP
- 266.44%
- Max
- 53.38%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
IBM
Software & Services industry group
35.77%
- Max
- 53.38%
- IBM
- 35.77%
- Q3
- 16.53%
- Median
- 5.38%
- Q1
- -13.43%
- Min
- -55.27%
Net Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 64.29% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and IBM (IBM) at 15.61% also retains a top-quartile share.
APP
Software & Services industry group
64.29%
- APP
- 64.29%
- Max
- 44.20%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- Median
- 3.32%
- Q1
- -5.99%
- Min
- -34.99%
IBM
Software & Services industry group
15.61%
- Max
- 44.20%
- IBM
- 15.61%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- Median
- 3.32%
- Q1
- -5.99%
- Min
- -34.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 78.15% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while IBM (IBM) at 13.81% operates around its industry’s norm.
APP
Software & Services industry group
78.15%
- APP
- 78.15%
- Max
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
IBM
Software & Services industry group
13.81%
- Max
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- IBM
- 13.81%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -53.94%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 266.44% | 35.77% |
| ROA (TTM) | 44.24% | 5.37% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 64.29% | 15.61% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 78.15% | 13.81% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.37% | 58.36% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 69.99% | 7.62% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.84% | 3.72% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 115.23% | 73.72% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 83.76% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AppLovin (APP) at 3.24 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while IBM (IBM) at 0.80 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
APP
Software & Services industry group
3.24
- Max
- 5.55
- APP
- 3.24
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.03
IBM
Software & Services industry group
0.80
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.07
- IBM
- 0.80
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 1.63 and IBM (IBM) at 2.11 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
APP
Software & Services industry group
1.63
- Max
- 2.31
- APP
- 1.63
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
IBM
Software & Services industry group
2.11
- Max
- 2.31
- IBM
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.24 | 0.80 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.63 | 2.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.22 | 3.49 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile IBM (IBM) reports a yield of 2.60%, ranking against industry peers normally.
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
IBM
Software & Services industry group
2.60%
- IBM
- 2.60%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile IBM (IBM) reports a payout of 59.47%, ranking against industry peers normally.
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
IBM
Software & Services industry group
59.47%
- IBM
- 59.47%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.60% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 59.47% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 41.49 and IBM (IBM) at 24.04 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
APP
Software & Services industry group
41.49
- Max
- 114.57
- Q3
- 59.78
- APP
- 41.49
- Median
- 29.42
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 0.40
IBM
Software & Services industry group
24.04
- Max
- 114.57
- Q3
- 59.78
- Median
- 29.42
- IBM
- 24.04
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 0.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)
IBM (IBM) at 3.70 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while AppLovin (APP) at 26.00 clears its benchmark range — APP looks notably rich on sales.
APP
Software & Services industry group
26.00
- APP
- 26.00
- Max
- 17.86
- Q3
- 8.79
- Median
- 4.10
- Q1
- 2.13
- Min
- 0.03
IBM
Software & Services industry group
3.70
- Max
- 17.86
- Q3
- 8.79
- Median
- 4.10
- IBM
- 3.70
- Q1
- 2.13
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
IBM (IBM) at 7.74 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while AppLovin (APP) at 67.88 prices above its benchmark range — APP looks rich relative to book.
APP
Software & Services industry group
67.88
- APP
- 67.88
- Max
- 17.72
- Q3
- 8.62
- Median
- 3.82
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- -7.65
IBM
Software & Services industry group
7.74
- Max
- 17.72
- Q3
- 8.62
- IBM
- 7.74
- Median
- 3.82
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- -7.65
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APP | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 41.49 | 24.04 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 3.70 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 67.88 | 7.74 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.98% | 5.12% |