IBM prospers in the cloud

Article Excerpt

IBM, $143.76, is still a buy. The stock (New York symbol IBM; Shares outstanding: 896.3 million; Market cap: $129.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 4.6%) is one of the world’s largest computer companies, with operations in over 175 countries. IBM continues to use acquisitions to bolster its cloud and AI operations. In the first half of 2021, it spent $2.9 billion on purchases of smaller businesses. As a result of those new businesses, revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2021, gained 3.4%, to $18.75 billion from $18.12 billion a year earlier. Earnings before one-time items gained 7.9%, to $2.10 billion from $1.95 billion. Due to more shares outstanding, per-share earnings rose at a slower pace of 6.9%, to $2.33 from $2.18. Meanwhile, the company raised your quarterly dividend by 0.6% in June 2021. The stock now yields a high 4.6%. IBM remains a buy. buy…