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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.

Company profile comparison for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
Profile ItemIBMQBTS
NameInternational Business Machines CorporationD-Wave Quantum 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 USD4.05 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 11, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IBM
QBTS
GSPC
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), 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 D-Wave Quantum (QBTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
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

IBM
QBTS
GSPC
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), 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 D-Wave Quantum (QBTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.48%104.32%
Beta (5Y)0.792.31
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.50%-96.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.30M15.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IBM and QBTS 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 IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): 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 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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
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.

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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): 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; D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
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
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): 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 D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.8620.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.850.04
Net Debt / EBITDA3.37--

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
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
--
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): QBTS 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 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
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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
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IBM (IBM) vs. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for IBM (IBM) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS)
MetricIBMQBTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.90--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.31326.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.523.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.34%-1.81%