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International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
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International Business Machines (IBM) AI Stock Analysis

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IBM

International Business Machines

(NYSE:IBM)

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Outperform 77 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$320.00
▲(13.46% Upside)
IBM's overall stock score of 77 reflects its strong financial performance and positive earnings call, which highlight robust revenue growth and strategic focus on AI and hybrid cloud. While the technical analysis supports a slightly bullish outlook, the high P/E ratio suggests potential overvaluation concerns. The company's ability to generate strong free cash flow and maintain a solid dividend yield further supports its investment appeal.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
IBM's robust revenue growth across all segments highlights the strength of its business model and strategic focus on AI and hybrid cloud, indicating a solid foundation for future expansion.
Cash Flow Generation
Strong free cash flow generation enhances IBM's ability to invest in growth opportunities, reduce debt, and maintain dividends, supporting long-term financial health and shareholder value.
Strategic Partnerships
Strategic partnerships like the one with Groq enhance IBM's product offerings and market reach, particularly in AI, positioning the company to capitalize on emerging technology trends.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage can limit IBM's financial flexibility and pose risks in volatile market conditions, potentially impacting its ability to invest in growth and innovation.
Profitability Pressure
Pressure on profitability, despite revenue growth, suggests challenges in maintaining cost efficiencies, which could affect IBM's long-term margin sustainability and competitive positioning.
Consulting Signings Decline
A decline in consulting signings may indicate challenges in securing new business, potentially impacting future revenue streams and growth in IBM's consulting segment.

International Business Machines (IBM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

International Business Machines Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionInternational Business Machines (IBM) is a multinational technology and consulting company, known for its innovation in hardware, software, and services. Founded in 1911, IBM operates in various sectors, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and enterprise solutions. Its core products and services include IBM Cloud, IBM Watson, and IBM Systems, as well as a suite of consulting and IT services that help organizations transform their operations and leverage technology for competitive advantage.
How the Company Makes MoneyIBM generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily from its cloud and cognitive software, global business services, and systems segments. The company earns a significant portion of its revenue from cloud computing services, which include infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings. Additionally, IBM's consulting services, which encompass business process services and technology consulting, contribute notably to its earnings. The company has established strategic partnerships with various organizations to enhance its product offerings and expand market reach, particularly in industries like healthcare, finance, and government. Moreover, IBM generates income through licensing its software products and providing maintenance and support services. Overall, the combination of these revenue streams, along with ongoing investments in research and development, positions IBM to adapt to market demands and capitalize on emerging technologies.

International Business Machines Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Annual Recurring Revenue
Annual Recurring Revenue
Shows the steady income IBM earns from subscription-based services, highlighting business stability and customer retention.
Chart InsightsIBM's Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) has surged significantly, reaching $22.7 billion, driven by strong performance in software and infrastructure, particularly with the new z17 mainframe. This growth aligns with IBM's strategic focus on AI and hybrid cloud, as evidenced by their $7.5 billion GenAI book of business. Despite challenges in consulting and transaction processing revenues, the company's increased free cash flow guidance and robust ARR growth highlight its resilience and strategic momentum in key technology areas.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

International Business Machines Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 22, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 27, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
IBM demonstrated strong financial performance with significant revenue growth across all segments, driven by strategic focus on AI and hybrid cloud. Despite some challenges in transaction processing and Red Hat growth, the company showcased robust free cash flow and consulting growth, indicating a positive trajectory.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth Acceleration
IBM reported a 7% revenue growth in Q3 2025, marking the highest growth in several years, with all segments accelerating sequentially.
Strong Performance in Automation and AI
Software growth accelerated to 9%, led by automation, which was up 22%. IBM's Gen AI book of business exceeded $9.5 billion, with 200 consulting projects using digital workers at scale.
Infrastructure Growth Driven by z17
Infrastructure delivered robust performance, growing 15%, driven by continued strength in z17, marking the highest third-quarter revenue in nearly two decades.
Record Free Cash Flow
IBM generated $7.2 billion of free cash flow, the highest nine-month free cash flow margin in reported history, with an expectation of about $14 billion for the year.
Consulting Return to Growth
Consulting returned to growth with revenue up 2%, reflecting solid demand for AI services and software-driven delivery models.
Significant Margin Expansion
IBM realized a 290 basis points expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin and raised full-year expectations for operating pretax margin expansion to over a point.
Negative Updates
Decline in Transaction Processing Revenue
Transaction processing revenue declined by 3%, reflecting a temporary impact from clients prioritizing hardware spend on IBM Z systems.
Challenges in Red Hat Growth
Red Hat revenue grew 12%, impacted by a softening in consumption-based services and Rell trending back towards single-digit growth.
Consulting Signings Decline
Total consulting signings declined this quarter, although the quality of signings strengthened with more strategic wins.
Company Guidance
In the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, IBM reported robust financial performance, exceeding expectations with a 7% revenue growth, the highest in several years. All segments showed sequential acceleration, highlighting the strength of IBM's business model and portfolio. Software revenue grew by 9%, driven by a 22% increase in automation, while infrastructure reported a 15% growth fueled by the z17 platform. Consulting returned to growth with a 2% increase, reflecting strong demand for AI services. The company is on track to achieve $4.5 billion in annual productivity savings and maintains a strong liquidity position with cash amounting to $14.9 billion. IBM raised its full-year expectations for revenue growth to more than 5% and free cash flow to approximately $14 billion, indicating a solid outlook for the remainder of 2025.

International Business Machines Financial Statement Overview

Summary
IBM shows strong financial health with stable revenue growth and efficient cash flow generation. Despite high leverage, the company maintains a robust return on equity. Profit margins are solid, though recent pressure on net income needs monitoring. Overall, IBM is well-positioned financially, but should be cautious of its debt levels in fluctuating market environments.
Income Statement
IBM demonstrated a stable revenue growth with a 2.04% increase in TTM compared to 2024. The gross profit margin stands at a solid 57.56% for the TTM, although the net profit margin is moderate at 9.11%. EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy at 14.56% and 16.33% respectively, indicating strong operational efficiency. However, the decrease in net income and EBIT from 2024 reflects some pressure on profitability.
Balance Sheet
IBM maintains a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.46, suggesting significant leverage. However, its return on equity (ROE) is strong at 21.20% in the TTM, showing effective use of equity. The equity ratio is relatively low at 18.52%, indicating a reliance on debt financing which poses a risk if market conditions change.
Cash Flow
IBM's cash flow health is impressive with free cash flow to net income ratio at 2.13, showing efficient cash conversion. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is also strong at 2.28, reflecting robust cash generation relative to profits. Free cash flow growth is positive, enhancing IBM's capability to invest in growth or reduce debt.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue64.04B62.75B61.86B60.53B57.35B55.18B
Gross Profit36.87B35.55B34.30B32.69B31.49B30.86B
EBITDA12.90B12.18B14.69B7.17B12.41B10.55B
Net Income5.83B6.02B7.50B1.64B5.74B5.59B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets148.59B137.18B135.24B127.24B132.00B155.97B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments15.45B14.59B13.44B8.74B7.25B13.81B
Total Debt67.72B58.40B59.94B54.01B55.14B65.09B
Total Liabilities121.00B109.78B112.63B105.22B113.00B135.25B
Stockholders Equity27.51B27.31B22.53B21.94B18.90B20.60B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow11.81B11.76B12.12B8.46B10.03B14.97B
Operating Cash Flow13.28B13.45B13.93B10.44B12.80B18.20B
Investing Cash Flow-14.25B-4.94B-7.07B-4.20B-5.97B-3.03B
Financing Cash Flow-1.85B-7.08B-1.77B-4.96B-13.35B-9.72B

International Business Machines Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price282.05
Price Trends
50DMA
263.79
Positive
100DMA
268.08
Positive
200DMA
255.40
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
4.49
Positive
RSI
61.20
Neutral
STOCH
62.81
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For IBM, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 282.05 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 283.63, above the 50-day MA of 263.79, and above the 200-day MA of 255.40, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 4.49 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 61.20 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 62.81 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for IBM.

International Business Machines Risk Analysis

International Business Machines disclosed 25 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. International Business Machines reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

International Business Machines Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$155.35B20.6125.82%2.44%7.36%6.18%
77
Outperform
$264.23B46.0122.73%2.38%2.69%-31.73%
76
Outperform
$32.58B13.5416.69%1.79%6.34%12.16%
74
Outperform
$69.12B21.4329.15%2.92%4.62%1.06%
72
Outperform
$28.74B17.5916.39%3.04%-1.97%48.61%
70
Outperform
$67.48B21.0712.66%6.73%3.93%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
IBM
International Business Machines
287.51
75.12
35.37%
ACN
Accenture
249.14
-107.64
-30.17%
CTSH
Cognizant
68.36
-5.34
-7.25%
FI
Fiserv
126.07
-77.22
-37.99%
INFY
Infosys
17.47
-4.11
-19.05%
WIT
Wipro
2.69
-0.49
-15.41%

International Business Machines Corporate Events

IBM Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results, Raises Outlook
Oct 23, 2025

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company, operating in the information technology sector, known for its extensive portfolio of software, consulting, and infrastructure services, as well as its pioneering work in artificial intelligence (AI).

IBM’s Earnings Call Highlights Strong Growth and Optimism
Jul 25, 2025

IBM’s recent earnings call painted a picture of robust financial health and growth, particularly in software, infrastructure, and AI sectors. Despite facing hurdles in consulting revenue and a dip in transaction processing, IBM’s performance surpassed expectations, prompting an upward revision in free cash flow guidance.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
IBM Exceeds Q2 2025 Expectations with Strong Growth
Positive
Jul 24, 2025

IBM reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with revenue, profit, and cash flow exceeding expectations. The company’s performance was driven by growth in its Software and Infrastructure segments, particularly with the introduction of the z17 mainframe and advancements in AI and hybrid cloud solutions. IBM’s strategic focus on AI and hybrid cloud continues to yield positive outcomes, as evidenced by significant growth in its GenAI business and recognition as an Emerging Leader in AI consulting. The company also expanded its partner ecosystem and launched new capabilities in its watsonx portfolio, further solidifying its position in the technology industry.

The most recent analyst rating on (IBM) stock is a Buy with a $250.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on International Business Machines stock, see the IBM Stock Forecast page.

IBM Reports Strong Q2 2025 Earnings Growth
Jul 24, 2025

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company, known for its leadership in software, infrastructure, and consulting services, with a strong focus on innovation and AI solutions.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 23, 2025