Tearsheet

International Business Machines (IBM)


Market Price (12/25/2025): $304.01 | Market Cap: $283.9 Bil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: IT Consulting & Other Services

International Business Machines (IBM)


Market Price (12/25/2025): $304.01
Market Cap: $283.9 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: IT Consulting & Other Services

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.


0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 21%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18%, CFO LTM is 13 Bil, FCF LTM is 12 Bil
Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -3.3%, Dist 3Y High is -3.3%
Key risks
IBM key risks include [1] intense competition from major hyperscalers in the hybrid cloud market, Show more.
1 Attractive yield
Dividend Yield is 2.2%
  
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 30%
  
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Crypto & Blockchain. Show more.
  
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 21%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18%, CFO LTM is 13 Bil, FCF LTM is 12 Bil
1 Attractive yield
Dividend Yield is 2.2%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 30%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Crypto & Blockchain. Show more.
4 Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -3.3%, Dist 3Y High is -3.3%
5 Key risks
IBM key risks include [1] intense competition from major hyperscalers in the hybrid cloud market, Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

IBM Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

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1. Strong Q3 2025 Earnings Performance. IBM announced third-quarter 2025 earnings results on October 22, 2025, demonstrating accelerated performance across all segments and exceeding expectations for revenue, profit, and free cash flow. Revenue increased by 9% (7% at constant currency), with software revenue up 10% and consulting revenue up 3%. The company's AI book of business also reached over $9.5 billion.

2. Raised Free Cash Flow (FCF) Outlook. IBM raised its full-year 2025 adjusted free cash flow outlook to $14 billion, an increase from its earlier projection of $13.5 billion. This improved FCF outlook was noted as a factor that could potentially drive the stock higher.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Fundamental Drivers

The 14.5% change in IBM stock from 9/24/2025 to 12/24/2025 was primarily driven by a 32.7% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).
924202512242025Change
Stock Price ($)266.06304.5614.47%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)64038.0065402.002.13%
Net Income Margin (%)9.11%12.09%32.73%
P/E Multiple42.4635.97-15.28%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)930.81933.86-0.33%
Cumulative Contribution14.47%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

9/24/2025 to 12/24/2025
ReturnCorrelation
IBM14.5% 
Market (SPY)4.4%38.9%
Sector (XLK)5.1%31.6%

Fundamental Drivers

The 5.9% change in IBM stock from 6/25/2025 to 12/24/2025 was primarily driven by a 38.8% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).
625202512242025Change
Stock Price ($)287.52304.565.93%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)62830.0065402.004.09%
Net Income Margin (%)8.71%12.09%38.79%
P/E Multiple48.7535.97-26.22%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)928.00933.86-0.63%
Cumulative Contribution5.92%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

6/25/2025 to 12/24/2025
ReturnCorrelation
IBM5.9% 
Market (SPY)14.0%34.1%
Sector (XLK)17.5%29.5%

Fundamental Drivers

The 39.2% change in IBM stock from 12/24/2024 to 12/24/2025 was primarily driven by a 18.3% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).
1224202412242025Change
Stock Price ($)218.76304.5639.22%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)62577.0065402.004.51%
Net Income Margin (%)10.22%12.09%18.27%
P/E Multiple31.5835.9713.89%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)923.58933.86-1.11%
Cumulative Contribution39.21%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

12/24/2024 to 12/24/2025
ReturnCorrelation
IBM39.2% 
Market (SPY)15.8%46.0%
Sector (XLK)22.2%41.4%

Fundamental Drivers

The 139.9% change in IBM stock from 12/25/2022 to 12/24/2025 was primarily driven by a 480.4% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).
1225202212242025Change
Stock Price ($)126.96304.56139.89%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)60532.0065402.008.05%
Net Income Margin (%)2.08%12.09%480.35%
P/E Multiple91.0335.97-60.48%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)904.10933.86-3.29%
Cumulative Contribution139.63%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

12/25/2023 to 12/24/2025
ReturnCorrelation
IBM99.7% 
Market (SPY)48.9%44.7%
Sector (XLK)54.1%38.8%

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
IBM Return-1%16%11%22%39%42%206%
Peers Return40%44%-31%52%31%17%223%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%18%115%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
IBM Win Rate58%58%50%67%75%50% 
Peers Win Rate63%67%28%68%63%48% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
IBM Max Drawdown-29%-6%-9%-12%-3%-1% 
Peers Max Drawdown-20%-6%-39%-4%-7%-24% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: MSFT, AMZN, ORCL, ACN, GOOGL. See IBM Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/24/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventIBMS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-20.2%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven25.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven356 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-39.0%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven63.9%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven974 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-40.9%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven69.1%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1,858 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-44.8%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven81.2%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven398 days1,480 days

Compare to MSFT, ORCL, INTC, GLOB, BAO

In The Past

International Business Machines's stock fell -20.2% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 6/11/2021. A -20.2% loss requires a 25.4% gain to breakeven.

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About International Business Machines (IBM)

International Business Machines Corporation provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through four business segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing. The Software segment offers hybrid cloud platform and software solutions, such as Red Hat, an enterprise open-source solutions; software for business automation, AIOps and management, integration, and application servers; data and artificial intelligence solutions; and security software and services for threat, data, and identity. This segment also provides transaction processing software that supports clients' mission-critical and on-premise workloads in banking, airlines, and retail industries. The Consulting segment offers business transformation services, including strategy, business process design and operations, data and analytics, and system integration services; technology consulting services; and application and cloud platform services. The Infrastructure segment provides on-premises and cloud-based server and storage solutions for its clients' mission-critical and regulated workloads; and support services and solutions for hybrid cloud infrastructure, as well as remanufacturing and remarketing services for used equipment. The Financing segment offers lease, installment payment, loan financing, and short-term working capital financing services. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. International Business Machines Corporation was incorporated in 1911 and is headquartered in Armonk, New York.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Here are a few brief analogies to describe IBM:

  • Like Accenture meets Microsoft's enterprise cloud (Azure).
  • The Oracle of hybrid cloud, AI, and business transformation for large enterprises.

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  • IBM Z Mainframes: High-performance, secure servers designed for large-scale transaction processing and mission-critical workloads.
  • IBM Power Systems: Servers optimized for data-intensive applications, AI, and hybrid cloud environments.
  • IBM Storage Systems: Enterprise solutions for data management, backup, and disaster recovery, including flash, disk, and tape.
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux & OpenShift: Industry-leading enterprise Linux operating system and a Kubernetes platform for containerized application deployment.
  • IBM Db2: A family of relational database management systems for various operating systems and workloads.
  • IBM Watson (AI Software): A suite of enterprise AI products for natural language processing, machine learning, and automation.
  • IBM Cloud Paks: Containerized software solutions, built on Red Hat OpenShift, for data, AI, automation, security, and integration.
  • IBM Security Software: Solutions for identity, access, data, and threat management to protect enterprise assets.
  • IBM Consulting (Professional Services): Provides expertise in business transformation, technology strategy, digital experience, and cloud adoption.
  • Managed Infrastructure Services (Managed Services): Manages clients' IT infrastructure, including cloud and data center operations, to optimize performance and reduce costs.
  • Technology Support Services (Support Services): Offers technical support, maintenance, and repair for IBM and multi-vendor hardware and software products.
  • IBM Cloud Platform (Cloud Platform Services): Offers a comprehensive suite of cloud computing services including infrastructure, platform, and software as a service for application development and deployment.

AI Analysis | Feedback

International Business Machines (IBM) primarily sells its technology, software, and consulting services to other businesses (B2B), governments, and large organizations worldwide, rather than directly to individual consumers.

Due to the highly diversified nature of its client base across numerous industries and geographies, IBM does not typically have "major customers" in the traditional sense, where a significant portion of its total revenue comes from a single customer or a small group of customers. Its Annual Reports consistently indicate that no single client accounts for a material percentage (e.g., more than 10%) of its total revenue.

However, IBM serves a vast array of global enterprises. The following are examples of prominent public companies and sectors that are known to leverage IBM's offerings for their critical operations, digital transformation, and hybrid cloud strategies. These examples illustrate the types of large organizations that are IBM clients, rather than representing exclusive or concentrated revenue sources:

  • Financial Services: Large banks, insurance companies, and investment firms often rely on IBM's zSystems mainframes for secure transaction processing, data management, and compliance, as well as its software and consulting services.
    • Example: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)
    • Example: Bank of America Corp. (BAC)
    • Example: Citigroup Inc. (C)
  • Telecommunications: Global telecommunication providers utilize IBM's hybrid cloud, AI, and automation solutions to manage complex networks, enhance customer experiences, and develop new services.
    • Example: AT&T Inc. (T)
    • Example: Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)
  • Government & Public Sector: Various governmental agencies, defense organizations, and public institutions worldwide use IBM for large-scale IT infrastructure, data management, security, and digital transformation initiatives. (Note: These are typically not public companies with stock symbols).
  • Retail & Consumer Goods: Major retailers and consumer product companies deploy IBM solutions for supply chain optimization, customer engagement platforms, and analytics to drive efficiency and innovation.
    • Example: Walmart Inc. (WMT)
    • Example: The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences: Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and research institutions leverage IBM's expertise in data analytics, cloud, and AI for drug discovery, patient care, and operational improvements.
    • Example: Pfizer Inc. (PFE)
    • Example: Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)

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  • GlobalFoundries (GFS)
  • Intel (INTC)
  • Micron Technology (MU)
  • Western Digital (WDC)

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Arvind Krishna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Arvind Krishna has served as the Chairman and CEO of IBM since January 2021 and April 2020, respectively. He has been with IBM since 1990, starting at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center. Krishna was the chief architect of IBM's largest acquisition, the $34 billion Red Hat deal, which closed in July 2019. He has been instrumental in advancing IBM's focus on hybrid cloud and AI technologies, leading the expansion of new markets in artificial intelligence, cloud, quantum computing, and blockchain technology. Prior to his CEO role, he held leadership positions including Senior Vice President of Cloud and Cognitive Software and Director of IBM Research.

James J. Kavanaugh, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

James J. Kavanaugh is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IBM, a position he has held since January 2018. In this role, he oversees IBM's worldwide financial operations, including accounting, treasury, investor relations, and corporate strategy. He also continues to oversee Transformation & Operations, including the Chief Information Office and Global Chief Data Office. Kavanaugh joined IBM in 1996. Before joining IBM, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Americas Global Services at AT&T Corporation. His career at IBM has included roles such as Vice President of Finance for IBM's Sales and Distribution worldwide and Controller.

Rob Thomas, Senior Vice President, Software and Chief Commercial Officer

Rob Thomas oversees IBM's software business, including global product, development, business, and revenue. He also serves as the Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for all go-to-market activities across IBM's portfolio. Thomas has been a driving force behind IBM's transition to AI and analytics and directed major acquisitions totaling over $12 billion to strengthen IBM's software capabilities. He has a 20-year tenure at IBM, with leadership roles in consulting, microelectronics, and software.

Jonathan H. Adashek, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Jonathan H. Adashek leads IBM's global Marketing, Communications, and Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. He is responsible for aligning the company's brand and managing federal client business development, as well as overseeing strategic communication initiatives worldwide.

Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting

Mohamad Ali leads IBM Consulting, directing global business transformation and technology services through industry expertise and strategic partnerships. He is responsible for driving client solutions and expanding the company's consulting footprint by leveraging IBM technology and AI. Prior to joining IBM, Mohamad Ali served as CEO of IDG and Carbonite, and was Chief Strategy Officer at Hewlett Packard.

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The public company International Business Machines (IBM) faces several key risks inherent in the rapidly evolving technology sector.

  1. Cybersecurity and AI Security/Governance: IBM's business is highly susceptible to cybersecurity threats, including sophisticated attacks like ransomware and malicious software that exploit vulnerabilities in hardware, software, and infrastructure. The increasing adoption of generative AI introduces novel attack methods and expands cyber risk frontiers, with concerns that AI adoption is outpacing security measures. IBM's own reports highlight a shift in attacker tactics towards credential theft and stealthier intrusions. A lack of adequate AI access controls and the prevalence of "shadow AI" (unapproved AI tool usage) contribute significantly to data breaches and operational disruptions, leading to potential liability, litigation, reputational damage, and financial losses.
  2. Intense Competition and Market Shifts: IBM operates within a fiercely competitive technology landscape, vying with major hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud in hybrid cloud and enterprise software, and global systems integrators in consulting. The company must constantly anticipate and respond to evolving customer and market preferences, disruptive technologies, and emerging business models to prevent declines in demand for its offerings. Despite strategic shifts towards hybrid cloud and AI, IBM still trails some key competitors in market share within certain cloud segments.
  3. Workforce Transformation and Talent Gaps: The rapid advancements in generative AI necessitate significant workforce transformation, including the retraining and reskilling of a substantial portion of IBM's workforce. There is a recognized challenge in attracting and retaining specialized AI talent, as well as a broader skills shortage in critical areas like the IBM i platform due to retiring experienced developers. Successful generative AI adoption hinges significantly on people's readiness and comfort with the technology, which often outpaces deployment speeds, posing operational and cultural hurdles.

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  • Intensified competition from hyperscale cloud providers (Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform) as they increasingly expand beyond infrastructure and platform services to offer comprehensive enterprise consulting, managed services, and industry-specific solutions, directly encroaching on IBM's traditional strengths in enterprise software and professional services.
  • The rapid advancement and widespread availability of highly capable generative AI and large language models (LLMs) from specialized AI companies and hyperscale cloud providers. This trend can commoditize aspects of enterprise AI development and reduce reliance on proprietary AI platforms, potentially challenging IBM's Watsonx offerings and AI consulting business.

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IBM operates across several significant and growing addressable markets, primarily focusing on software, consulting, and infrastructure solutions, with a strong emphasis on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI).

Software

IBM's software portfolio, which includes Hybrid Cloud Platform & Solutions (such as Red Hat OpenShift), Automation, Data & AI, and Transaction Processing, addresses the broader enterprise software market. The global enterprise software market was valued at approximately $280.49 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach around $761.73 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 11.74% from 2025 to 2034. Another estimate places the global enterprise software market at $316.69 billion in 2025, expected to grow to $403.90 billion by 2030, excluding administrative software, office suites, and collaboration tools. Using a broader definition that includes infrastructure, security software, and databases, the market was estimated at $899.9 billion in 2024. IBM's annual recurring revenue (ARR) for its hybrid platform and solutions within its software segment stood at $14.9 billion, marking an 11% year-over-year increase.

Consulting

IBM Consulting, formerly IBM Global Business Services, provides a range of professional services, including strategy and management consulting, experience design, technology and systems integration, and operations, with a focus on digital transformation, hybrid cloud architectures, and AI services. The global IT consulting services market is substantial. It was valued at an estimated $78.03 billion in 2025 and is forecasted to reach $93.73 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 6.5% during that period. Other estimates indicate the global IT consulting services market could reach $117.1 billion by the end of 2025 and grow to $278.779 billion by 2033. Another source valued the global IT consulting services market at $561.8 billion in 2024, projected to reach $906.47 billion by 2032.

Infrastructure

IBM's infrastructure offerings encompass hardware (such as IBM z series mainframes, Power Systems, and storage solutions), as well as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and hybrid infrastructure. The global Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) market was valued at $142.35 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow from $158.89 billion in 2025 to $396.01 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.9% during the forecast period. The global hybrid cloud market is also a significant addressable market for IBM, estimated at $172.77 billion in 2025 and projected to grow to $311.75 billion by 2030. Furthermore, the global Infrastructure Services market is projected to be $159.8 billion in 2025, expanding to $810.55 billion by 2033. For IBM-specific server and storage products through VARs, the global IBM Server VARs market size is estimated at $11.75 billion in 2025, projected to reach $22.07 billion by 2033. The global IBM Storage VARs market is expected to be $5.98 billion in 2025, growing to $9.62 billion by 2033.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

IBM's AI capabilities, notably through its Watsonx platform, target a rapidly expanding market for AI solutions and services. The global IBM Watson services market was valued at $5.50 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $76.47 billion by 2033, demonstrating an impressive CAGR of 30.1% from 2023 to 2033. IBM's generative AI business has shown strong momentum, with bookings exceeding $6 billion since its inception. Approximately three-quarters of this generative AI business has been through consulting engagements, with the remaining quarter from software.

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International Business Machines (IBM) - Expected Drivers of Future Revenue Growth

Over the next 2-3 years, International Business Machines (IBM) is strategically positioned for revenue growth, primarily driven by its focus on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, strong performance in its Software segment, the continued evolution of its Infrastructure offerings, and growth within its Consulting arm. The company has consistently highlighted these areas as key to its future expansion and has provided forward guidance reflecting this outlook. Here are the key expected drivers of future revenue growth for IBM: * Hybrid Cloud and AI Portfolio Expansion: A significant driver of IBM's future revenue growth is the continued expansion and adoption of its hybrid cloud and AI offerings. The company's "generative AI book of business" has been steadily increasing, reaching over $9.5 billion by Q3 2025, demonstrating strong client demand for AI-driven solutions across its portfolio. IBM's strategy emphasizes enabling clients to leverage a mix of models, including IBM's own Granite models, open models, and their proprietary models, which are touted for their cost-efficiency. This focus on AI is integrated into both its software and consulting segments, contributing significantly to growth in these areas. * Software Segment Strength, particularly Red Hat and Automation: The Software segment continues to be a robust engine for IBM's revenue growth, with consistent performance and optimistic projections. In Q3 2025, software revenue grew 10%, with automation experiencing significant growth of 22%. Red Hat, a key component of the hybrid cloud platform, is expected to maintain mid-teens growth for 2025, fueled by consistent double-digit bookings growth and demand for its hybrid cloud solutions. Acquisitions like HashiCorp are also expected to contribute to software revenue, with an anticipated contribution of approximately $600 million in fiscal year 2025. * Innovation and Demand for IBM zSystems: The launch and strong performance of new mainframe systems, specifically the z17 platform, are crucial for the Infrastructure segment's revenue growth. The z17 system, purpose-built for AI and hybrid cloud, offers breakthrough capabilities in real-time inferencing and quantum-safe security. The early success of the z17 platform fueled a 59% year-to-year increase in IBM z revenue in Q3 2025, marking its highest third-quarter revenue in nearly two decades. This strong mainframe cycle is anticipated to continue through 2025 and into early 2026. * Consulting Services for AI and Digital Transformation: IBM's Consulting segment is showing renewed growth, driven by increasing demand for AI services and solutions that accelerate AI transformation and maximize returns for clients. After a period of cautious growth, consulting revenue returned to growth in Q3 2025, improving sequentially. This growth reflects solid demand for strategic offerings such as business application transformation, application modernization and migration, and application operations, as clients actively seek partners to design, deploy, and govern AI at scale. The "consulting generative AI book of business" exceeded $1 billion in Q2 2025, further underscoring this trend.

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Share Repurchases

  • IBM suspended its share repurchase program in 2019 following the Red Hat acquisition to prioritize debt reduction.
  • As of December 31, 2024, IBM retained approximately $2.008 billion in authorized funds for common stock repurchases.
  • No significant stock buybacks have been resumed by IBM through 2023 and into 2024.

Share Issuance

  • IBM issued 12,253,153 shares in 2024, 9,794,240 shares in 2023, and 8,539,072 shares in 2022 as part of its stock-based compensation plans and employee stock purchase plan.
  • The dollar amount of stock issued for the trailing twelve months ended June 2025 was $401 million.

Outbound Investments

  • IBM has actively pursued acquisitions to bolster its hybrid cloud and AI strategy, completing 11 acquisitions in 2024 with a total investment of $3.3 billion. Notable acquisitions in 2024 include HashiCorp for an enterprise value of $6.4 billion.
  • In 2023, IBM acquired 3 companies, including Manta Software Inc., and announced its intent to acquire Software AG's StreamSets and webMethods platforms for €2.13 billion ($2.33 billion).
  • During 2022, IBM acquired 8 companies, investing over $2 billion, focusing on areas like cloud consulting, data quality management, and digital transformation services.

Capital Expenditures

  • IBM's capital expenditures have shown a decreasing trend, with values of $2.618 billion in 2020, $2.062 billion in 2021, $1.346 billion in 2022, $1.245 billion in 2023, and $1.048 billion in 2024.
  • The latest twelve months capital expenditures, ending September 30, 2025, amounted to $1.012 billion.
  • IBM announced a plan in April 2025 to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years, including over $30 billion in research and development for American manufacturing of mainframe and quantum computers.

Better Bets than International Business Machines (IBM)

Trade Ideas

Select ideas related to IBM. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
13.9%13.9%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
12.0%12.0%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
17.0%17.0%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
11.9%11.9%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
4.1%4.1%0.0%
IBM_10312018_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper10312018IBMInternational Business MachinesMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
24.8%21.5%-5.6%

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for International Business Machines

Peers to compare with:

Financials

IBMMSFTAMZNORCLACNGOOGLMedian
NameInternat.MicrosoftAmazon.c.Oracle AccentureAlphabet  
Mkt Price304.56488.02232.38197.49269.98314.09287.27
Mkt Cap284.43,627.52,471.8565.6167.23,796.11,518.7
Rev LTM65,402293,812670,03861,01770,726385,477182,269
Op Inc LTM11,544135,93776,19019,49010,151124,07747,840
FCF LTM11,85478,01713,481-13,18111,51273,55212,668
FCF 3Y Avg11,75371,30221,6772,1559,86568,99816,715
CFO LTM13,483147,039121,13722,29612,116151,42471,716
CFO 3Y Avg13,498121,38496,97719,87410,433120,99058,425

Growth & Margins

IBMMSFTAMZNORCLACNGOOGLMedian
NameInternat.MicrosoftAmazon.c.Oracle AccentureAlphabet  
Rev Chg LTM4.5%15.6%10.9%11.1%6.6%13.4%11.0%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg2.6%13.2%11.3%9.8%4.3%11.0%10.4%
Rev Chg Q9.1%18.4%13.3%14.2%6.0%15.9%13.8%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.1%4.3%3.0%3.4%1.5%3.8%3.2%
Op Mgn LTM17.7%46.3%11.4%31.9%14.4%32.2%24.8%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg16.4%44.6%7.9%30.8%14.3%29.9%23.1%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.6%0.6%0.3%0.3%-0.3%-0.5%0.3%
CFO/Rev LTM20.6%50.0%18.1%36.5%17.1%39.3%28.6%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg21.4%47.2%15.8%35.5%15.5%35.3%28.4%
FCF/Rev LTM18.1%26.6%2.0%-21.6%16.3%19.1%17.2%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg18.6%28.0%3.5%5.1%14.6%20.5%16.6%

Valuation

IBMMSFTAMZNORCLACNGOOGLMedian
NameInternat.MicrosoftAmazon.c.Oracle AccentureAlphabet  
Mkt Cap284.43,627.52,471.8565.6167.23,796.11,518.7
P/S4.312.33.79.32.49.86.8
P/EBIT25.027.929.026.715.924.925.8
P/E36.034.635.036.722.030.634.8
P/CFO21.124.720.425.413.825.122.9
Total Yield5.0%3.6%2.9%3.7%6.8%3.5%3.6%
Dividend Yield2.2%0.7%0.0%0.9%2.3%0.3%0.8%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg6.4%2.3%1.1%1.3%5.4%3.3%2.8%
D/E0.20.00.10.20.00.00.1
Net D/E0.2-0.00.00.2-0.0-0.00.0

Returns

IBMMSFTAMZNORCLACNGOOGLMedian
NameInternat.MicrosoftAmazon.c.Oracle AccentureAlphabet  
1M Rtn0.1%3.0%2.7%-1.4%10.8%-1.3%1.4%
3M Rtn14.5%-4.2%5.5%-35.9%13.7%27.2%9.6%
6M Rtn5.9%-0.5%9.6%-5.9%-7.3%84.3%2.7%
12M Rtn39.2%11.9%1.5%16.4%-23.8%60.8%14.1%
3Y Rtn139.9%109.3%172.6%153.5%6.9%254.7%146.7%
1M Excs Rtn-3.2%-0.4%-0.7%-4.8%7.4%-4.7%-2.0%
3M Excs Rtn3.9%-8.5%1.6%-37.0%11.9%22.9%2.7%
6M Excs Rtn-7.3%-14.4%-5.9%-19.7%-20.6%68.4%-10.9%
12M Excs Rtn23.0%-4.3%-13.6%0.7%-41.7%47.9%-1.8%
3Y Excs Rtn63.1%26.2%92.1%73.0%-70.2%176.2%68.1%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Software25,01125,03723,42622,92722,891
Consulting20,88419,10717,84416,25716,798
Infrastructure14,59315,28814,18814,5337,604
Financing7416457749751,400
Other-divested businesses397318785101930
Other revenue235135335387162
Global Technology Services    27,361
Total61,86160,53057,35255,18077,146


Assets by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Software59,81157,18658,42058,55858,342
Consulting15,08913,48111,91410,54810,136
Financing14,40915,75716,88024,97429,568
Cash and marketable securities12,9078,1386,22212,4637,308
Infrastructure11,99112,24311,76612,3784,590
Pension assets7,5068,2369,8487,5576,865
Deferred tax assets6,4686,0787,1588,1754,995
Other3,5633,7404,5303,5143,077
Operating right-of-use assets2,0851,5861,9452,3683,530
Plant, other property and equipment1,8381,7602,1962,4492,262
Other-divested businesses6011001,1092541,906
Elimination of internal transactions-1,028-1,062-1,608-4,686-4,317
Notes and accounts receivable  1,6221,6551,488
Total assets of discontinued operations   15,764 
Global Technology Services    22,436
Total135,240127,243132,002155,971152,186


Price Behavior

Price Behavior
Market Price$304.56 
Market Cap ($ Bil)284.4 
First Trading Date01/02/1962 
Distance from 52W High-3.3% 
   50 Days200 Days
DMA Price$301.67$268.38
DMA Trendupup
Distance from DMA1.0%13.5%
 3M1YR
Volatility28.2%30.1%
Downside Capture39.5666.50
Upside Capture94.7089.46
Correlation (SPY)39.5%46.2%
IBM Betas & Captures as of 11/30/2025

 1M2M3M6M1Y3Y
Beta0.951.040.980.900.720.69
Up Beta1.301.291.121.400.580.57
Down Beta0.771.241.230.940.830.76
Up Capture74%113%142%78%84%56%
Bmk +ve Days12253873141426
Stock +ve Days10223870136420
Down Capture98%72%41%65%76%86%
Bmk -ve Days7162452107323
Stock -ve Days9192455112329

[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
 Comparison of IBM With Other Asset Classes (Last 1Y)
 IBMSector ETFEquityGoldCommoditiesReal EstateBitcoin
Annualized Return39.5%26.7%19.2%71.9%8.9%6.0%-10.4%
Annualized Volatility29.9%27.6%19.5%19.3%15.3%17.1%35.0%
Sharpe Ratio1.120.840.782.690.360.18-0.12
Correlation With Other Assets 41.2%45.8%9.1%17.0%42.2%15.9%

ETFs used for asset classes: Sector ETF = XLK, Equity = SPY, Gold = GLD, Commodities = DBC, Real Estate = VNQ, and Bitcoin = BTCUSD
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 5-Year Data
 Comparison of IBM With Other Asset Classes (Last 5Y)
 IBMSector ETFEquityGoldCommoditiesReal EstateBitcoin
Annualized Return25.5%19.0%14.9%18.7%11.7%4.8%32.6%
Annualized Volatility23.6%24.7%17.1%15.5%18.7%18.9%48.7%
Sharpe Ratio0.940.690.700.970.510.170.59
Correlation With Other Assets 36.2%43.7%8.7%16.0%38.7%11.3%

ETFs used for asset classes: Sector ETF = XLK, Equity = SPY, Gold = GLD, Commodities = DBC, Real Estate = VNQ, and Bitcoin = BTCUSD
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 10-Year Data
 Comparison of IBM With Other Asset Classes (Last 10Y)
 IBMSector ETFEquityGoldCommoditiesReal EstateBitcoin
Annualized Return13.3%22.3%14.7%14.9%6.9%5.2%69.2%
Annualized Volatility24.7%24.2%18.0%14.8%17.6%20.8%55.8%
Sharpe Ratio0.520.840.700.830.310.220.90
Correlation With Other Assets 51.3%59.8%3.4%23.6%48.8%10.3%

ETFs used for asset classes: Sector ETF = XLK, Equity = SPY, Gold = GLD, Commodities = DBC, Real Estate = VNQ, and Bitcoin = BTCUSD
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date12152025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity19,765,710
Short Interest: % Change Since 113020250.7%
Average Daily Volume3,267,398
Days-to-Cover Short Interest6.05
Basic Shares Quantity933,861,791
Short % of Basic Shares2.1%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
10/22/2025-0.9%7.2%1.6%
7/23/2025-7.6%-7.7%-14.5%
4/23/2025-6.6%-1.5%6.0%
1/29/202513.0%15.2%11.1%
10/23/2024-6.2%-12.0%-3.7%
7/24/20244.3%4.4%7.4%
4/24/2024-8.3%-10.7%-6.4%
1/24/20249.5%5.6%7.8%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive131416
# Negative11108
Median Positive4.7%5.0%5.5%
Median Negative-6.2%-7.3%-6.7%
Max Positive13.0%15.2%20.7%
Max Negative-9.9%-12.0%-14.5%

SEC Filings

Expand for More
Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251023202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025724202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025424202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024225202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241030202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024730202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024430202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023226202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231031202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023725202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023425202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022228202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221025202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022725202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022426202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021222202210-K 12/31/2021