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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.

Company profile comparison for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
Profile ItemIBMPS
NameInternational Business Machines CorporationPluralsight Inc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryIT Consulting & Other ServicesApplication Software
Market Capitalization231.55 billion USD20.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962April 29, 2026
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IBM
PS
GSPC
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
Total Return (1Y)-16.98%--
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.40%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)19.64%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IBM
PS
GSPC
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.48%100.16%
Beta (5Y)0.796.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.50%-43.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.30M428.47K

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

Risk-adjusted metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
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
--
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; IBM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
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.

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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
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
--
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; IBM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

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
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.86--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.850.18
Net Debt / EBITDA3.374.35

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
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
--
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; IBM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

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
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): 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 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
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IBM (IBM) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for IBM (IBM) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricIBMPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.90--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.3127.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.5215.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.34%--