IHS (IHS) vs Iridium Communications (IRDM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 21, 2026.
Summary
Iridium Communications (IRDM) has outperformed IHS (IHS) over the past year, gaining 135.4% versus a gain of 26.0%. Over five years, IRDM leads with a +8.4% price change compared with -49.9% for IHS. Iridium Communications is the larger company by market cap ($4.66 billion vs $2.85 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, IHS trades at a lower forward P/E (15.3x vs 25.0x for Iridium Communications). Iridium Communications converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.1% versus 9.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | IHS | IRDM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $8.43 | $43.94 |
| Market cap | $2.85B | $4.66B |
| 1-day change | 0.00% | -0.54% |
| YTD return | +13.00% | +152.82% |
| 1-year return | +26.01% | +135.35% |
| 5-year return | -49.88% | +8.36% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 5.37 | 49.93 |
| Forward P/E | 15.33 | 24.97 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.57 | $0.88 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.36% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.58B | $871.66M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.59% | +4.93% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $143.60M | $114.37M |
| Gross margin | 55.41% | — |
| Operating margin | 51.92% | 27.07% |
| Net margin | 9.08% | 13.12% |
| 52-week high | $8.95 | $57.18 |
| 52-week low | $5.71 | $15.65 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.81% | -23.15% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | -5.10% | -4.42% |
| Average volume | 1.03M | 1.10M |
| Shares outstanding | 338.34M | 105.98M |
| Employees | 2,344 | 975 |
| Sector | Telecommunications | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Telecommunications Equipment | Telecommunications Equipment |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- IRDM has outperformed IHS by 109.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Iridium Communications trades at a higher earnings multiple (49.9x vs 5.4x trailing P/E).
- Iridium Communications offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.36% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: IHS in Telecommunications and Iridium Communications in Consumer Discretionary.
About IHS
IHS stock →IHS Holding Limited, together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates shared communications infrastructure in Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Zambia. The company offers colocation and lease amendment services, which allows customers to lease space on existing towers alongside current tenants, install additional equipment on a tower, and request for ancillary services; build-to-suit sites; in-building solutions and distributed antenna systems, which allows customers to lease space in secure locations within large building complexes, such as shopping malls, stadiums, and airports; non-intrusive small cell installation services on commercial premises, lampposts, and poles; fiber-to-the-tower connectivity services; rural telephony services; and managed services, including maintenance, security, and power supply services.
Telecommunications · Telecommunications Equipment · 2,344 employees
About Iridium Communications
IRDM stock →Iridium Communications Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services and products to businesses, the United States and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers in the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Telecommunications Equipment · 975 employees
IHS vs IRDM FAQ
Which is bigger, IHS or Iridium Communications?
Iridium Communications (IRDM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.66B compared with $2.85B for IHS (IHS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, IHS or IRDM?
IRDM returned +135.35% over the past 12 months, compared with +26.01% for IHS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, IHS or IRDM?
IHS has the lower trailing P/E at 5.4, versus 49.9 for IRDM. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, IHS or Iridium Communications?
Iridium Communications pays a dividend yielding 1.36%, while IHS does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are IHS and Iridium Communications in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Telecommunications Equipment industry within the Telecommunications sector.