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CRCL vs. IBM: Circle Internet vs. IBM Stock Comparison

How do Circle Internet (CRCL) 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

Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but CRCL is classified in Software while IBM is classified in IT Services.

IBM (IBM) carries decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, while Circle Internet (CRCL) listed on June 5, 2025 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the IBM side.

Company profile comparison for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
Profile ItemCRCLIBM
NameCircle Internet Group, Inc. Class AInternational 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 Capitalization17.41 billion USD231.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 5, 2025January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRCL
IBM
GSPC
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Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
Total Return (1Y)-33.88%-16.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--22.40%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--19.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRCL
IBM
GSPC
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Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)96.01%48.48%
Beta (5Y)0.840.79
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.93%-37.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.74M5.30M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CRCL 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.40-0.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.61-0.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

IBM (IBM) at 34.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for IBM.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

13.44%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
CRCL
13.44%
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

IBM (IBM) at 15.99% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

15.28%

Max
41.17%
CRCL
15.28%
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of IBM (IBM) at 16.97%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

24.09%

Max
46.89%
CRCL
24.09%
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
ROE (TTM)13.44%34.77%
ROA (TTM)0.28%5.33%
Net Margin (TTM)15.28%15.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.09%16.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.58%57.97%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than IBM (IBM) at 7.62%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.

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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
Revenue Growth (YoY)63.86%7.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)52.66%3.72%
EPS Growth (YoY)-640.54%73.72%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--83.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while IBM (IBM) at 0.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for IBM.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

1.04

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
CRCL
1.04
Q1
1.01
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while IBM (IBM) at 1.85 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
CRCL
0.00
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.040.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.001.85
Net Debt / EBITDA-4.683.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 2.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL
0.00%
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 57.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL
0.00%
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%57.51%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 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.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

40.89

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
CRCL
40.89
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) 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 Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 and IBM (IBM) at 3.31 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

5.75

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
CRCL
5.75
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 and IBM (IBM) at 6.52 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

4.50

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
CRCL
4.50
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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Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. IBM (IBM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and IBM (IBM)
MetricCRCLIBM
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.8920.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.753.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.506.52
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.43%5.34%