Global Payments Inc vs International Business Machines Corp — how do they compare? Global Payments Inc trades at $78.2 (market cap $21.40B), while International Business Machines Corp trades at $217.82 (market cap $198.50B). The key difference: International Business Machines Corp is far larger — about 9.3× Global Payments Inc's market cap, and International Business Machines Corp pays the higher dividend (3.2%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GPN | IBM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $21.40B | $198.50B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $90.01 | $329.23 |
52-Week Low | $62.47 | $211.20 |
Enterprise Value | $39.11B | $256.52B |
Dividend Yield | 1.28% | 3.2% |
Volume | — | 4,481,527 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Global Payments (GPN) trades at $79.67, up 4.98% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company shows robust operating cash flow of $2.66B in 2025 and benefits from strategic initiatives like the Worldpay integration and AI-powered POS expansions. However, net income margin turned negative at -7.97% for 2026, reflecting margin pressures amid rising costs and competitive fintech landscape.
GPN presents a mixed outlook: analyst consensus is bullish with a $81.56 price target (58% buy ratings), but investors face risks from debt growth (debt-to-asset ratio rising to 41.57% in 2025) and profitability challenges. Near-term catalysts include continued execution on commerce technology deals, while volatility may persist from macroeconomic headwinds.
IBM's stock is trading at $213.46, down 1.66% for the day, following a significant 25% drop after a preliminary Q2 2026 earnings warning. The company reported strong profitability with a 15.61% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for the last three quarters. Technical indicators show a bearish trend, with the current price near the pivot point of $214. Recent news highlights concerns over AI's impact on enterprise spending and a securities fraud investigation.
The outlook is mixed: solid fundamentals and a consensus price target of $310.21 suggest long-term upside, but near-term risks from softer demand and legal scrutiny warrant caution. Investors should weigh the high ROE of 35.93% against volatility from shifting tech budgets and potential earnings miss in Q2.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Global Payments is a leading provider of payment processing and software solutions and focuses on serving small and midsize merchants. The company operates in 30 countries and generates about one fourth of its revenue from outside North America, primarily in Europe and Asia. In 2019, Global Payments merged with Total System Services in an all-stock deal that gave Total System Services shareholders 48% of the combined company's shares.
Read more on GPN →International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides computer solutions. The Company offers application, technology consulting and support, process design and operations, cloud, digital workplace, and network services, as well as business resiliency, strategy, and design solutions. IBM serves clients worldwide.
Read more on IBM →