A brighter outlook for IBM

Article Excerpt

IBM, $144.17, is still a buy. The company (New York symbol IBM; Shares o/s: 911.0 million; Market cap: $130.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.6%) is one of the world’s largest computer companies, with operations in over 175 countries. In the past few years, IBM has shifted its focus to its more-profitable cloud computing, consulting and mainframe businesses. It now gets over 75% of its revenue from its software and consulting. In the three months ended June 30, 2023, IBM’s revenue slipped 0.4%, to $15.46 billion from $15.54 billion a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, per-share earnings fell 5.6%, to $2.18 from $2.31. However, IBM now expects its overall revenue will rise 3% to 5% in 2023. The higher revenue should lift IBM’s free cash flow (regular cash flow less maintenance capital expenditures) to $10.5 billion in 2023, up from $9.3 billion in 2022. The stock yields a high 4.6%. IBM remains a buy. buy…