IONQ
IonQ, Inc.
Computer Hardware
Market Cap$19.27B
5Y Perf.+363.2%
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Stock Comparison
IONQ vs IBM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation
Information Technology Services
Market Cap$211.75B
5Y Perf.+98.4%
IONQ vs IBM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IONQ | IBM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Computer Hardware | Information Technology Services |
| Market Cap | $19.27B | $211.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $187M | $68.91B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $277M | $10.75B |
| Gross Margin | 38.1% | 59.0% |
| Operating Margin | -443.3% | 16.4% |
| Forward P/E | — | 18.2x |
| Total Debt | $30M | $67.15B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.03B | $13.64B |
IONQ vs IBM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IONQ
IBM
| Stock | Jan 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) | 100 | 463.2 | +363.2% |
| International Busin… (IBM) | 100 | 198.4 | +98.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IONQ vs IBM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IONQ and IBM are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. International Business Machines Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IONQ
IonQ, Inc.
The Growth Play
IONQ carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 201.9%, EPS growth -16.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 126.9%
- 386.8% 10Y total return vs IBM's 104.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.91, Low D/E 0.8%, current ratio 15.50x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation
The Income Pick
IBM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 30 yrs, beta 1.03, yield 2.9%
- Beta 1.03, yield 2.9%, current ratio 0.93x
- Beta 1.03 vs IONQ's 2.91
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IONQ | 201.9% revenue growth vs IBM's 7.6% |
| Quality / Margins | IONQ | 148.1% margin vs IBM's 15.6% |
| Stability / Safety | IBM | Beta 1.03 vs IONQ's 2.91 |
| Dividends | IBM | 2.9% yield; 30-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | IONQ | +78.7% vs IBM's -6.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IBM | 7.1% ROA vs IONQ's 5.9%, ROIC 9.8% vs -30.1% |
IONQ vs IBM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
IONQ vs IBM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIONQLAGGINGIBM
IBMInternational Busines…
2leads
IONQIonQ, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs IBMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IONQ2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IBM4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IONQ6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
IBM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — IONQ and IBM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IBM is the larger business by revenue, generating $68.9B annually — 368.3x IONQ's $187M. IONQ is the more profitable business, keeping 148.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IBM's 15.6%.
| Metric | IONQIonQ, Inc. | IBMInternational Bus… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $187M | $68.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$711M | $15.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $277M | $10.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$425M | $13.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.1% | +59.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -4.4% | +16.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +148.1% | +15.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.3% | +19.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.5% | +9.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.8% | +14.3% |
Evenly matched — IONQ and IBM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IONQ leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IONQIonQ, Inc. | IBMInternational Bus… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $19.3B | $211.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $18.3B | $265.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -28.88x | 20.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 18.16x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.63x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 17.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 148.25x | 3.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.86x | 6.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 18.29x |
IONQ leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IBM leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IBM delivers a 35.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $35 in annual profit, vs $9 for IONQ. IONQ carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IBM's 2.05x.
| Metric | IONQIonQ, Inc. | IBMInternational Bus… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +35.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.9% | +7.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -30.1% | +9.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -18.4% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 2.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.0B | $53.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $13.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30M | $67.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 6.41x |
IBM leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IONQ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IONQ five years ago would be worth $51,238 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,255 for IBM. Over the past 12 months, IONQ leads with a +78.7% total return vs IBM's -6.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IONQ at 104.5% vs IBM's 25.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IONQIonQ, Inc. | IBMInternational Bus… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.4% | -22.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +78.7% | -6.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +754.8% | +99.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +412.4% | +82.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +386.8% | +104.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +104.5% | +25.8% |
IONQ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IBM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IBM is the less volatile stock with a 1.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IONQ's 2.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IBM currently trades 69.5% from its 52-week high vs IONQ's 62.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IONQIonQ, Inc. | IBMInternational Bus… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.91x | 1.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.64 | $324.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.89 | $220.72 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +62.1% | +69.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.9 | 40.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 26.2M | 5.4M |
IBM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IONQ as "Buy" and IBM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 37.2% upside for IBM (target: $310) vs 26.5% for IONQ (target: $67). IBM is the only dividend payer here at 2.92% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | IONQIonQ, Inc. | IBMInternational Bus… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $66.50 | $309.64 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 50 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $6.59 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
IONQ leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). IBM leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallIonQ, Inc. (IONQ)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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IONQ vs IBM: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IONQ or IBM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, IonQ, Inc.
(IONQ) is the stronger pick with 201. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 6% for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) offers the better valuation at 20. 2x trailing P/E (18. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) a "Buy" — based on 6 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — IONQ or IBM?
Over the past 5 years, IonQ, Inc.
(IONQ) delivered a total return of +412. 4%, compared to +82. 5% for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IONQ returned +386. 8% versus IBM's +104. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — IONQ or IBM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
03β versus IonQ, Inc. 's 2. 91β — meaning IONQ is approximately 183% more volatile than IBM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for International Business Machines Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — IONQ or IBM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), IonQ, Inc.
(IONQ) is pulling ahead at 201. 9% versus 7. 6% for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: International Business Machines Corporation grew EPS 73. 7% year-over-year, compared to -16. 7% for IonQ, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IONQ leads at 126. 9% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — IONQ or IBM?
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the more profitable company, earning 15.
7% net margin versus -392. 6% for IonQ, Inc. — 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 -487. 4% for IONQ. 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.
06Is IONQ or IBM more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IBM: 37.
2% to $309. 64.
07Which pays a better dividend — IONQ or IBM?
In this comparison, IBM (2.
9% yield) pays a dividend. IONQ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is IONQ or IBM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
03), 2. 9% yield, +104. 9% 10Y return). IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) carries a higher beta of 2. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IBM: +104. 9%, IONQ: +386. 8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between IONQ and IBM?
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: IONQ is a mid-cap high-growth stock; IBM is a large-cap quality compounder stock. IBM pays a dividend while IONQ does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
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(IONQ: 754.7% · IBM: 9.5%)Net Margin>
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