IBM vs. QBTS: IBM vs. D-Wave Quantum Stock Comparison
How do IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) 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 D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but IBM is classified in IT Services while QBTS is classified in Software.
IBM (IBM) is a mega-cap company at 231.55 billion USD, while D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) is mid-cap at 4.05 billion USD — a noticeably different scale category that can shape how their valuation multiples are read.
IBM (IBM) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) listed on December 11, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | International Business Machines Corporation | D-Wave Quantum 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 | 4.05 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | December 11, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -16.98% | -61.09% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.40% | 152.63% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 19.64% | 3.13% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.31, 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 | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.48% | 104.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.79 | 2.31 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.50% | -96.67% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.30M | 15.15M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.44 | -0.63 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.56 | -1.00 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) reports a negative ROE of -27.99%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile IBM (IBM) reports 34.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
-27.99%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- QBTS
- -27.99%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
IBM (IBM) at 15.99% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) at 0.00%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- QBTS
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) reports a negative operating margin of -1,732.06%, 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%
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
-1,732.06%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
- QBTS
- -1,732.06%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 34.77% | -27.99% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.33% | -10.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.99% | 0.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.97% | -1,732.06% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.97% | 64.19% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) at 178.54% 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; D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.62% | 178.54% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.72% | 50.78% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 73.72% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 83.76% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) at 20.55 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while IBM (IBM) at 0.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
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
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
20.55
- QBTS
- 20.55
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) at 0.04 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while IBM (IBM) at 1.85 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.
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
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
0.04
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- QBTS
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 20.55 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.85 | 0.04 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.37 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) 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.
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%
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- QBTS
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) 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.
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%
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- QBTS
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.73% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 57.51% | 0.00% |
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 D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) 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
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- QBTS
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
IBM (IBM) at 3.31 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) at 326.31 clears its benchmark range — QBTS 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
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
326.31
- QBTS
- 326.31
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both IBM (IBM) at 6.52 and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) at 3.67 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
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
QBTS
Software & Services industry group
3.67
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- QBTS
- 3.67
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IBM | QBTS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.90 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.31 | 326.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.52 | 3.67 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.34% | -1.81% |