International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) Stock Price Up 3.9% – What’s Next?

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) shares traded up 3.9% on Friday . The company traded as high as $243.63 and last traded at $243.1420. 4,877,011 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 37% from the average daily volume of 7,710,638 shares. The stock had previously closed at $234.02.

International Business Machines News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IBM and Lockheed Martin are establishing a quantum innovation hub at ETH Zurich through a Swiss defense offset agreement. The facility is expected to host Switzerland’s first IBM Quantum System Two, combining IBM’s Nighthawk r2 processor with the Alps supercomputer and giving researchers and businesses access to the technology through at least 2029. The arrangement provides IBM with institutional exposure to quantum computing without relying solely on speculative commercial demand. IBM and Lockheed Martin Turn a Swiss Defense Deal Into a Quantum Computing Bet
• Positive Sentiment: The partnership could support longer-term applications in quantum sensing, navigation, advanced materials and aerospace manufacturing. IBM’s existing software and AI relationships with Lockheed may also increase switching costs and strengthen IBM’s position in defense-oriented hybrid computing. IBM and Lockheed Martin Seem an Odd Couple. Why They’re Teaming Up On Quantum
• Positive Sentiment: IBM and NASA released an open-source lunar foundation model trained on decades of Moon-observation data. The model reportedly improves identification of features such as ice deposits and craters by up to 23%, highlighting IBM’s AI capabilities and potential use in scientific and government projects. IBM and NASA Release Open-Source AI Model to Support Lunar Exploration

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $270.00 target price on International Business Machines in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird started coverage on International Business Machines in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating and a $230.00 price target for the company. Oppenheimer lowered International Business Machines from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on International Business Machines from $290.00 to $235.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Roth Capital restated a “buy” rating on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, International Business Machines currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $265.90.

International Business Machines Trading Up 3.9%

The firm has a market capitalization of $229.07 billion, a PE ratio of 21.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.71. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $237.79 and a 200 day moving average of $246.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.79.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.93. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.52% and a return on equity of 35.65%. The company had revenue of $17.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.80 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that International Business Machines Corporation will post 12.33 EPS for the current year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 10th were given a $1.69 dividend. This represents a $6.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 10th. International Business Machines’s dividend payout ratio is presently 59.98%.

Insider Buying and Selling at International Business Machines

In other news, SVP Robert Thomas sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.32, for a total transaction of $5,758,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 47,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,009,296. This trade represents a 34.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of International Business Machines

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IBM. Rench Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 1.9% during the second quarter. Rench Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,463 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $693,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in International Business Machines by 8.5% in the second quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd. now owns 3,336 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $938,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in International Business Machines by 6.9% in the second quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 221,104 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $62,177,000 after acquiring an additional 14,178 shares during the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its stake in International Business Machines by 3.2% in the second quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 4,879 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,372,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. Finally, Lotus Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines in the second quarter valued at approximately $252,000. Institutional investors own 58.96% of the company’s stock.

International Business Machines Company Profile

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company that provides enterprise-focused hardware, software and services. Its offerings include hybrid cloud solutions, artificial intelligence, data and automation software, cybersecurity tools, IT infrastructure and technology consulting.

IBM develops and supports enterprise systems such as IBM Z mainframes, Power servers and storage products. Its software portfolio includes Red Hat hybrid cloud technologies, the watsonx platform for artificial intelligence and data management, application integration tools and cybersecurity solutions.