MetaCap

IHS (IHS) vs Ziff Davis (ZD)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.

Summary

Ziff Davis (ZD) has outperformed IHS (IHS) over the past year, gaining 46.0% versus a gain of 23.0%. Over five years, IHS leads with a -49.4% price change compared with -54.9% for ZD. IHS is the larger company by market cap ($2.86 billion vs $1.92 billion), about 1.5 times the size.

On valuation, Ziff Davis trades at a lower forward P/E (9.3x vs 15.3x for IHS). IHS converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.1% versus 3.3%.

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

IHS+23.03%ZD+46.02%
+59%+12%-35%
Oct 8, 20251 yearOct 8, 2026
IHS-49.43%ZD-54.90%
+8%-41%-90%
Oct 11, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

IHS versus ZD key metrics
MetricIHSZD
Share price$8.44$55.91
Market cap$2.86B$1.92B
1-day change0.00%+1.84%
YTD return+13.14%+59.06%
1-year return+23.03%+46.02%
5-year return-49.43%-54.90%
P/E ratio (TTM)5.38—
Forward P/E15.359.34
EPS (TTM)$1.57$-1.50
Dividend yield0.00%0.00%
Annual dividend$0.00$0.00
Revenue (latest FY)$1.58B$1.45B
Revenue growth (YoY)+3.59%+3.54%
Net income (latest FY)$143.60M$47.35M
Gross margin55.41%85.76%
Operating margin51.92%12.62%
Net margin9.08%3.26%
52-week high$8.95$60.48
52-week low$5.71$22.45
Distance from 52-week high-5.70%-7.56%
Analyst consensusbuybuy
Avg. price target upside-5.21%+13.88%
Average volume1.08M610.27K
Shares outstanding338.34M34.29M
Employees2,3443,900
SectorTelecommunicationsTelecommunications
IndustryTelecommunications EquipmentTelecommunications 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

  • ZD has outperformed IHS by 23.0 percentage points over the past year.
  • IHS is more profitable, keeping 9.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 3.3 cents for Ziff Davis.

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 Ziff Davis

ZD stock →

Ziff Davis, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media and internet company in the United States and internationally. It offers online resources for laboratory-based product reviews, technology news, buying guides, and research papers under the PCMag and CNET brands; Mashable for publishing technology and culture content; Spiceworks provides digital content of IT products and services; RetailMeNot, a savings destination platform; VoucherCodes; Offers.com, a coupon and deals website; and event based properties, includes BlackFriday.com, TheBlackFriday.com, BestBlackFriday.com, and DealsofAmerica.com.

Telecommunications · Telecommunications Equipment · 3,900 employees

IHS vs ZD FAQ

Which is bigger, IHS or Ziff Davis?

IHS (IHS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.86B compared with $1.92B for Ziff Davis (ZD).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, IHS or ZD?

ZD returned +46.02% over the past 12 months, compared with +23.03% for IHS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Are IHS and Ziff Davis in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Telecommunications Equipment industry within the Telecommunications sector.

More comparisons