BINARY, COMP, and COMP-4 are synonyms. Binary-format numbers occupy 2, 4, or 8 bytes of storage. If the PICTURE clause specifies that an item is signed, the leftmost bit is used as the operational sign.
A binary number with a PICTURE description of four or fewer decimal digits occupies 2 bytes; five to nine decimal digits, 4 bytes; and 10 to 18 decimal digits, 8 bytes. Binary items with nine or more digits require more handling by the compiler.
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Full disclosure: "if the picture does not specify that the binary operand is "signed," COBOL will automagically disregard two's complement. (However, not the case here.)
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(The S picture-character indicates a signed value.)
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