New IBM computer set to spur revenue

Article Excerpt

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. $145 (New York symbol IBM; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 950.9 million; Market cap: $137.9 billion; Dividend yield: 4.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.ibm.com) last raised its dividend in May 2017. Investors now receive $1.50 a share instead of $1.40. The new annual rate of $6.00 yields 4.1%. The company will soon launch its new IBM Z mainframe computer. This new model offers faster processing speeds and better data encryption. That should help the company’s large corporate customers better protect their sensitive information from online intruders. As well, its faster-growing businesses, such as cloud computing and analytical software, now account for over 43% of total revenue. IBM is a buy. buy…