IBM boosts its profits

Article Excerpt

IBM, $135.09, is still a buy. Last year, the company (New York symbol IBM; Shares outstanding: 904.1 million; Market cap: $121.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.9%) spun off Kyndryl Holdings Inc. (New York symbol KD). That firm helps corp-rate and government clients manage their datacentres. The split lets IBM focus on its more-profitable cloud computing (Internet based), consulting and mainframe businesses. In the quarter ended December 31, 2022, revenue was virtually unchanged at $16.69 billion from a year earlier. Excluding exchange rates, revenue rose 6%. Earnings per share in the quarter rose 7.5%, to $3.60 from $3.35. The company sold more higher-profit-margin products and services, and it cut costs. IBM will likely earn $10.50 a share in 2023, and the stock trades at a moderate 12.9 times that estimate. The stock yields a high 4.9%. IBM remains a buy. buy…