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BSY vs. IBM: Bentley Systems vs. IBM Stock Comparison

How do Bentley Systems (BSY) 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

Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but BSY 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) listed on September 23, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
Profile ItemBSYIBM
NameBentley Systems, Incorporated Class B Common StockInternational Business Machines Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareIT Services
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareIT Consulting & Other Services
Market Capitalization13.50 billion USD231.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateSeptember 23, 2020January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BSY
IBM
GSPC
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
Total Return (1Y)-2.57%-16.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.01%22.40%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.13%19.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BSY
IBM
GSPC
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.49%48.48%
Beta (5Y)0.920.79
Max Drawdown (5Y)-53.94%-37.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.67M5.30M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BSY and IBM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.25-0.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 26.03% and IBM (IBM) at 34.77% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

26.03%

Max
53.85%
BSY
26.03%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

34.77%

Max
53.85%
IBM
34.77%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 19.57% and IBM (IBM) at 15.99% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

19.57%

Max
41.17%
BSY
19.57%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

15.99%

Max
41.17%
IBM
15.99%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 29.81% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of IBM (IBM) at 16.97%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

29.81%

Max
46.89%
BSY
29.81%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

16.97%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
IBM
16.97%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
ROE (TTM)26.03%34.77%
ROA (TTM)7.73%5.33%
Net Margin (TTM)19.57%15.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.81%16.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)82.37%57.97%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.99% and IBM (IBM) at 7.62% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

IBM (IBM) at 73.72% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 18.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for IBM.

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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.99%7.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.97%3.72%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.06%73.72%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.62%83.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.65 and IBM (IBM) at 0.86 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.65

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
BSY
0.65
Min
0.03

IBM

Software & Services industry group

0.86

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
IBM
0.86
Min
0.03
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.94 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while IBM (IBM) at 1.85 uses more debt funding than most peers.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.94

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
BSY
0.94
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

IBM

Software & Services industry group

1.85

Max
2.52
IBM
1.85
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.650.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.941.85
Net Debt / EBITDA2.123.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.62% and IBM (IBM) at 2.73% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.62%

BSY
0.62%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

2.73%

IBM
2.73%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 27.72% and IBM (IBM) at 57.51% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

27.72%

BSY
27.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

IBM

Software & Services industry group

57.51%

IBM
57.51%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.62%2.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.72%57.51%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 44.21 and IBM (IBM) at 20.90 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

44.21

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
BSY
44.21
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

IBM

Software & Services industry group

20.90

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
IBM
20.90
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 8.19 and IBM (IBM) at 3.31 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

8.19

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
BSY
8.19
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

IBM

Software & Services industry group

3.31

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
IBM
3.31
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

IBM (IBM) at 6.52 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — BSY is pricier on assets.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

10.79

Max
16.63
BSY
10.79
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

IBM

Software & Services industry group

6.52

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
IBM
6.52
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and IBM (IBM)
MetricBSYIBM
P/E Ratio (TTM)44.2120.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)8.193.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.796.52
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.74%5.34%