IBM vs. CL
IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) and CL (Colgate-Palmolive Company) are both stocks. IBM operates in Information Technology Services (Technology), while CL operates in Household & Personal Products (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, IBM returned 12.25%/yr vs 4.14%/yr for CL. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IBM vs. CL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBM achieves a 4.53% return, which is significantly lower than CL's 8.73% return. Over the past 10 years, IBM has outperformed CL with an annualized return of 12.25%, while CL has yielded a comparatively lower 4.14% annualized return.
IBM
- 1D
- -7.17%
- 1M
- 34.16%
- YTD
- 4.53%
- 6M
- 2.32%
- 1Y
- 18.19%
- 3Y*
- 36.49%
- 5Y*
- 21.40%
- 10Y*
- 12.25%
CL
- 1D
- -3.85%
- 1M
- -0.59%
- YTD
- 8.73%
- 6M
- 9.87%
- 1Y
- -3.98%
- 3Y*
- 6.21%
- 5Y*
- 2.62%
- 10Y*
- 4.14%
IBM vs. CL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBM International Business Machines Corporation | 4.53% | 38.23% | 39.27% | 21.85% | 10.64% | 16.65% | -1.16% | 23.58% | -22.56% | -3.99% |
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 8.73% | -10.98% | 16.57% | 3.78% | -5.44% | 2.08% | 27.17% | 18.60% | -19.19% | 17.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBM and CL is 0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 4, 1977 | 0.29 |
Over the past year, the correlation between IBM and CL has dropped to 0.06 - well below their long-term average of 0.29, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
IBM:
$290.99B
CL:
$68.33B
IBM:
$11.32
CL:
$2.58
IBM:
27.00
CL:
32.90
IBM:
0.32
CL:
8.50
IBM:
4.21
CL:
3.30
IBM:
8.82
CL:
471.23
IBM:
$68.91B
CL:
$20.80B
IBM:
$40.64B
CL:
$12.49B
IBM:
$15.71B
CL:
$3.92B
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Return for Risk
IBM vs. CL — Risk / Return Rank
IBM
CL
IBM vs. CL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| IBM | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.47 | -0.19 | +0.66 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.91 | -0.13 | +1.04 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 0.99 | +0.14 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.59 | -0.21 | +0.80 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.29 | -0.36 | +1.64 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IBM | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 | -0.19 | +0.66 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.80 | 0.14 | +0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 | 0.21 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.30 | 0.42 | -0.12 |
Drawdowns
IBM vs. CL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBM drawdown since its inception was -69.40%, which is greater than CL's maximum drawdown of -58.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBM and CL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBM | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.40% | -58.91% | -10.49% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.96% | -18.64% | -12.32% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -30.96% | -29.05% | -1.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.96% | -29.05% | -1.91% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.59% | -29.05% | -11.54% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.17% | -18.69% | +11.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.12% | -11.24% | -8.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 14.16% | 11.21% | +2.95% |
Volatility
IBM vs. CL - Volatility Comparison
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has a higher volatility of 20.58% compared to Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) at 6.45%. This indicates that IBM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBM | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 20.58% | 6.45% | +14.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 34.08% | 16.66% | +17.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 38.99% | 21.10% | +17.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.03% | 18.64% | +8.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.51% | 19.67% | +6.84% |
Dividends
IBM vs. CL - Dividend Comparison
IBM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.20%, less than CL's 2.46% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 2.46% | 2.61% | 2.18% | 2.40% | 2.36% | 2.10% | 2.05% | 2.48% | 2.79% | 2.11% | 2.37% | 2.25% |
IBM International Business Machines Corporation | 2.20% | 2.27% | 3.03% | 4.05% | 4.68% | 4.74% | 5.17% | 4.80% | 5.46% | 3.85% | 3.31% | 3.63% |
Financials
IBM vs. CL - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between International Business Machines Corporation and Colgate-Palmolive Company. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
IBM vs. CL - Profitability Comparison
IBM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, International Business Machines Corporation reported a gross profit of 8.95B and revenue of 15.92B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 56.2%.
CL - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported a gross profit of 3.23B and revenue of 5.32B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 60.6%.
IBM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, International Business Machines Corporation reported an operating income of 1.22B and revenue of 15.92B, resulting in an operating margin of 7.6%.
CL - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported an operating income of 1.16B and revenue of 5.32B, resulting in an operating margin of 21.7%.
IBM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, International Business Machines Corporation reported a net income of 1.22B and revenue of 15.92B, resulting in a net margin of 7.6%.
CL - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported a net income of 646.00M and revenue of 5.32B, resulting in a net margin of 12.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
IBM and CL have a correlation of 0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBM has higher volatility (20.58%) compared to CL (6.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBM dropped -69.40% vs CL's -58.91%.
IBM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.47 vs -0.19), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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