IBM Gains From Services

Article Excerpt

IBM $92.83 (New York symbol IBM; Shares outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $124.4 billion; SI Rating: Above Average) continues to sign up new clients for its services division. That’s because the company’s services help its clients lower their costs and improve efficiency. Service contracts also provide IBM with steady, recurring revenue streams. Higher services sales helped IBM earn $12.3 billion in 2008, up 18.4% from $10.4 billion in 2007. Earnings per share rose 24.4%, to $8.93 from $7.18 on fewer shares outstanding. Revenue increased 4.9%, to a record $103.6 billion from $98.8 billion. IBM holds $12.9 billion, or $9.63 a share, in cash. Long-term debt of $33.9 billion is a reasonable 27% of its market cap. IBM is still a buy. buy…