IBM maintains its long-term appeal

Article Excerpt

Dear client: IBM continues to increase revenue from its new businesses such as cloud computing (the storage of data files on remote servers using the Internet). The company expects those sales to eventually offset falling revenue for its traditional computer consulting and mainframe operations. Meantime, the stock is down 13% from its February 2017 peak of $183. That reflects concerns the transformation is taking too long. However, the price slip makes IBM shares highly attractive in relation to the company’s earnings. We feel IBM is on the right path and its transformation will spur growth for years to come. Investor should also expect the company to keep raising its dividend. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. $160 (New York symbol IBM, Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 939.5 million; Market cap: $150.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; Dividend yield: 3.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.ibm.com) began operating in 1911, and is now one of the world’s largest computer companies with operations in over…