IBM vs. PS: IBM vs. Pershing Square Stock Comparison
How do IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS) 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
IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but IBM is classified in IT Services while PS is classified in Software.
IBM (IBM) has been public since January 2, 1962, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Pershing Square (PS) listed only on April 29, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | International Business Machines Corporation | Pluralsight Inc |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | IT Services | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | IT Consulting & Other Services | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 231.55 billion USD | 20.58 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | April 29, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -16.98% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.40% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 19.64% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Pershing Square (PS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 6.25, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas IBM (IBM) is closer to market-like at 0.79 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.48% | 100.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.79 | 6.25 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.50% | -43.14% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.30M | 428.47K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both IBM and PS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.44 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.56 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: IBM (IBM) earns 34.77% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no ROE this period.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
- PS
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative net margin of -20.98%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile IBM (IBM) reports 15.99%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-20.98%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- PS
- -20.98%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative operating margin of -35.45%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile IBM (IBM) reports 16.97%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-35.45%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
- PS
- -35.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 34.77% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.33% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.99% | -20.98% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.97% | -35.45% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.97% | 24.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Pershing Square (PS) at 64.66% 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.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: IBM (IBM) reports EPS growth of 73.72%, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.62% | 64.66% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.72% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 73.72% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 83.76% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: IBM (IBM) shows current ratio of 0.86 against its industry benchmark, while Pershing Square (PS) has no reading this period.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
- PS
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Pershing Square (PS) at 0.18 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while IBM (IBM) at 1.85 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- PS
- 0.18
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.85 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.37 | 4.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both IBM (IBM) at 2.73% and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.24% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
0.24%
- PS
- 0.24%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative payout ratio of -10.99%, usually because earnings are negative; the payout ratio is not a useful dividend-sustainability benchmark in that state. Meanwhile IBM (IBM) reports 57.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-10.99%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
- PS
- -10.99%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.73% | 0.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 57.51% | -10.99% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: IBM (IBM) trades at 20.90 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Pershing Square (PS) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- PS
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
IBM (IBM) at 3.31 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Pershing Square (PS) at 27.11 clears its benchmark range — PS looks notably rich on sales.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
27.11
- PS
- 27.11
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
IBM (IBM) at 6.52 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Pershing Square (PS) at 15.12 carries an above-peer premium to book — PS is pricier on assets.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
15.12
- Max
- 16.63
- PS
- 15.12
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IBM | PS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.90 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.31 | 27.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.52 | 15.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.34% | -- |