IBM vs. T
IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) and T (AT&T Inc.) are both stocks. IBM operates in Information Technology Services (Technology), while T operates in Telecom Services (Communication Services). Over the past 10 years, IBM returned 11.09%/yr vs 3.33%/yr for T. At a 0.32 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IBM vs. T - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBM achieves a -6.89% return, which is significantly lower than T's -2.96% return. Over the past 10 years, IBM has outperformed T with an annualized return of 11.09%, while T has yielded a comparatively lower 3.33% annualized return.
IBM
- 1D
- -0.95%
- 1M
- 24.14%
- YTD
- -6.89%
- 6M
- -10.81%
- 1Y
- 0.72%
- 3Y*
- 29.65%
- 5Y*
- 18.01%
- 10Y*
- 11.09%
T
- 1D
- 2.52%
- 1M
- -1.87%
- YTD
- -2.96%
- 6M
- -1.93%
- 1Y
- -12.71%
- 3Y*
- 20.58%
- 5Y*
- 7.38%
- 10Y*
- 3.33%
IBM vs. T - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBM International Business Machines Corporation | -6.89% | 38.23% | 39.27% | 21.85% | 10.64% | 16.65% | -1.16% | 23.58% | -22.56% | -3.99% |
T AT&T Inc. | -2.96% | 13.97% | 44.08% | -2.74% | 5.76% | -8.09% | -21.37% | 45.55% | -22.25% | -4.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBM and T is 0.05, 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 | 0.05 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 19, 1984 | 0.32 |
Over the past year, the correlation between IBM and T has dropped to 0.05 - well below their long-term average of 0.32, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
IBM:
$11.32
T:
$3.04
IBM:
24.05
T:
7.74
IBM:
0.29
T:
0.32
IBM:
3.75
T:
1.35
IBM:
$68.91B
T:
$125.65B
IBM:
$40.64B
T:
$105.41B
IBM:
$15.71B
T:
$54.70B
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Return for Risk
IBM vs. T — Risk / Return Rank
IBM
T
IBM vs. T - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and AT&T Inc. (T). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IBM | T | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.98 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.04 | 0.92 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | -0.59 | +0.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | -1.22 | +1.18 |
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Drawdowns
IBM vs. T - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBM drawdown since its inception was -69.40%, which is greater than T's maximum drawdown of -64.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBM and T.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBM | T | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.40% | -64.15% | -5.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.96% | -21.87% | -9.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -30.96% | -21.87% | -9.09% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.96% | -32.01% | +1.05% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.59% | -42.35% | +1.76% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.31% | -18.12% | +0.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.12% | -15.72% | -4.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 14.38% | 10.64% | +3.74% |
Volatility
IBM vs. T - Volatility Comparison
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has a higher volatility of 21.43% compared to AT&T Inc. (T) at 8.21%. This indicates that IBM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than T based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBM | T | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 21.43% | 8.21% | +13.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 34.62% | 17.80% | +16.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 39.45% | 22.13% | +17.32% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.16% | 24.01% | +3.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.59% | 23.73% | +2.86% |
Dividends
IBM vs. T - Dividend Comparison
IBM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.47%, less than T's 4.71% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBM International Business Machines Corporation | 2.47% | 2.27% | 3.03% | 4.05% | 4.68% | 4.74% | 5.17% | 4.80% | 5.46% | 3.85% | 3.31% | 3.63% |
T AT&T Inc. | 4.71% | 4.47% | 4.87% | 6.62% | 6.66% | 8.46% | 7.23% | 5.22% | 7.01% | 5.04% | 4.51% | 5.46% |
Financials
IBM vs. T - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between International Business Machines Corporation and AT&T Inc.. 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
Frequently Asked Questions
IBM and T have a correlation of 0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBM has higher volatility (21.43%) compared to T (8.21%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBM dropped -69.40% vs T's -64.15%.
IBM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.02 vs -0.59), 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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