Strategic Blueprint LLC Lowers Stock Position in International Business Machines Corporation $IBM

Strategic Blueprint LLC lessened its position in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) by 26.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 9,535 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 3,435 shares during the period. Strategic Blueprint LLC’s holdings in International Business Machines were worth $2,824,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Cadence Bank grew its position in shares of International Business Machines by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Cadence Bank now owns 18,264 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $5,410,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the period. KTF Investments LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines in the 4th quarter worth about $296,000. Oakworth Capital Inc. boosted its position in International Business Machines by 10.7% during the fourth quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. now owns 2,949 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $874,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Flossbach Von Storch SE grew its holdings in International Business Machines by 29.7% in the fourth quarter. Flossbach Von Storch SE now owns 4,545 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,346,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares during the period. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC grew its holdings in International Business Machines by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 130,666 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $38,705,000 after purchasing an additional 4,920 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.96% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director David N. Farr purchased 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 30th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $304.00 per share, with a total value of $304,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 9,258 shares in the company, valued at $2,814,432. This trade represents a 12.11% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Michael Miebach acquired 434 shares of International Business Machines stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were bought at an average price of $233.33 per share, for a total transaction of $101,265.22. Following the transaction, the director owned 434 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $101,265.22. This represents a ? increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders acquired a total of 1,484 shares of company stock worth $417,157 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

International Business Machines Trading Up 2.2%

Shares of IBM opened at $233.12 on Wednesday. International Business Machines Corporation has a 52-week low of $220.72 and a 52-week high of $324.90. The stock has a market cap of $219.10 billion, a PE ratio of 20.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.69. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $244.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $279.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The technology company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.81 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $15.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.60 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.61% and a return on equity of 37.23%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.60 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 12.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 8th will be issued a $1.69 dividend. This represents a $6.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 8th. This is a positive change from International Business Machines’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.68. International Business Machines’s payout ratio is currently 59.77%.

Key International Business Machines News

Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IBM launched “IBM Bob,” an enterprise AI-first development partner (global availability; IBM cites ~80,000 employees using it and a reported ~45% productivity gain), a product that can directly drive software/service revenue and enterprise adoption. Introducing IBM Bob press release
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and investors point to a near-term cash catalyst — IBM projects roughly $1 billion in added free cash flow, a rationale some see as a reason to buy the dip after the quarter. A $1 Billion Reason to Buy the Dip
• Positive Sentiment: Commentary from bullish outlets argues IBM’s quantum and AI positioning is underappreciated by the market, suggesting some investors are adding exposure on the view that the selloff was overdone. IBM’s Post?Earnings Slide is Overdone
• Neutral Sentiment: Q1 results showed revenue and EPS beats and improving margins, but several analysts note the market remains unconvinced about the sustainability of margin expansion — a mixed read that can limit upside until guidance clarity emerges. IBM Is Growing and Margins Are Rising
• Neutral Sentiment: Market headlines and daily coverage are driving short-term volume swings; routine trading commentary notes IBM among names in focus as macro and index flows move. What’s Going On With IBM Stock Tuesday?
• Negative Sentiment: Some analysts and columnists warn the quarter’s strength was partly cyclical (hardware/data-center demand) while high-margin consulting/software slowed — a structural concern that could cap valuation multiple expansion. A Strong Quarter Does Not Make IBM Stock A Strong Buy
• Negative Sentiment: Debate over digital sovereignty and enterprise control of AI surfaced in coverage; one piece frames IBM as acknowledging limits around “control” in AI deployments — a narrative that could raise customer concern or slow enterprise transitions for some buyers. Companies Want Control Over AI — But IBM Says They Don’t Have It

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on IBM shares. Argus set a $360.00 target price on International Business Machines in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $215.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Erste Group Bank cut shares of International Business Machines from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of International Business Machines in a research note on Friday, April 10th. They set a “buy” rating and a $285.00 target price for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $296.18.

International Business Machines Company Profile

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM.

IBM’s principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development.