IBM vs ACN

For growth investors, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the stronger pick with 7.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 4% for Accenture plc (ACN). Accenture plc (ACN) offers the better valuation at 14. 4x trailing P/E (12. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Accenture plc (ACN) a "Buy" — based on 53 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Accenture plc (ACN) is the cheapest at 14.

4x versus International Business Machines Corporation at 20. 2x. On forward P/E, Accenture plc is actually cheaper at 12. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Accenture plc wins at 1. 39x versus International Business Machines Corporation's 1. 47x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) delivered a total return of +82.

5%, compared to -31. 4% for Accenture plc (ACN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IBM returned +104. 9% versus ACN's +84. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Accenture plc (ACN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

85β versus International Business Machines Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning IBM is approximately 21% more volatile than ACN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Accenture plc (ACN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 2% for International Business Machines Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is pulling ahead at 7.

6% versus 7. 4% for Accenture plc (ACN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: International Business Machines Corporation grew EPS 73. 7% year-over-year, compared to 6. 2% for Accenture plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACN leads at 4. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

7% net margin versus 11. 0% for Accenture plc — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IBM leads at 15. 3% versus 14. 7% for ACN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IBM leads at 59. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Accenture plc (ACN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 39x versus International Business Machines Corporation's 1. 47x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Accenture plc (ACN) trades at 12. 6x forward P/E versus 18. 2x for International Business Machines Corporation — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACN: 71. 8% to $299. 92.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Accenture plc (ACN) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 2. 9% for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Accenture plc (ACN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

85), 3. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACN: +84. 9%, IBM: +104. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: IBM is a large-cap quality compounder stock; ACN is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.