International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) Stock Keeps “Outperform” Rating at Royal Bank Of Canada

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)‘s stock had its “outperform” rating reaffirmed by equities researchers at Royal Bank Of Canada in a report issued on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $270.00 price target on the technology company’s stock. Royal Bank Of Canada’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 16.56% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on IBM. Citic Securities lifted their price target on International Business Machines from $294.00 to $297.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on International Business Machines in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $230.00 price target on the stock. Truist Financial began coverage on International Business Machines in a research report on Friday. They issued a “hold” rating and a $240.00 price target on the stock. Argus reduced their price objective on International Business Machines from $360.00 to $280.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price objective on International Business Machines from $225.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, August 31st. Eighteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $252.96.

International Business Machines Price Performance

IBM traded up $4.62 on Tuesday, reaching $231.64. The company had a trading volume of 1,200,662 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,480,461. International Business Machines has a 52-week low of $199.19 and a 52-week high of $332.46. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $232.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $243.84. The company has a market cap of $218.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.73. 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 released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.93. The business had revenue of $17.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.46 billion. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 35.65% and a net margin of 15.52%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.80 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that International Business Machines will post 12.33 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Robert Thomas sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.32, for a total value of $5,758,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 47,800 shares in the company, 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 can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Business Machines

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Harborfront Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Hara Capital LLC bought a new position in International Business Machines in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Bare Financial Services Inc increased its stake in International Business Machines by 114.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 103 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Portus Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in International Business Machines in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Caitlin John LLC bought a new stake in International Business Machines during the second quarter valued at about $35,000. 58.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

International Business Machines News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: IBM and IonQ advanced to Stage C of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. The development validates IBM’s quantum-computing efforts and could improve its positioning in a strategic growth market. However, IonQ was described as the current leader in accuracy, so the benefit to IBM remains competitive rather than decisive. DARPA Just Revealed the 2 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Now
• Positive Sentiment: The Pentagon’s roughly $350 million quantum initiative highlights potential long-term demand for quantum-computing providers, including IBM. Government backing may strengthen IBM’s research partnerships and commercial credibility, although the articles do not indicate how much funding, if any, will flow directly to IBM. The Pentagon’s $350 Million Quantum Push
• Neutral Sentiment: IBM was included in several analyst and technology-stock roundups, including comparisons with TSMC and Manhattan Associates and coverage of high-dividend technology stocks. These reports provide visibility but offer no significant new earnings catalyst. Analysts Offer Insights on Technology Companies
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles noted that IBM unveiled new quantum-computing tools and remains an active industry participant. The updates support IBM’s long-term innovation narrative, but their impact on revenue and profitability is not yet clear. Quantum Computing News
• Negative Sentiment: Truist Securities initiated coverage of IBM with a “Hold” rating. The neutral stance may limit upside expectations and signals that the stock’s valuation and established-business growth profile may already reflect much of its near-term potential. Truist Securities Initiates Coverage of IBM at Hold

About International Business Machines

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM), commonly known as IBM, is a global technology company that provides hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, software, consulting and infrastructure solutions. Its offerings help businesses and government organizations manage data, modernize applications, automate processes and improve cybersecurity.

IBM’s portfolio includes the Red Hat hybrid cloud platform, the watsonx suite of artificial intelligence and data tools, consulting services, and enterprise software for areas such as automation, application management, security and asset management.