Metis Global Partners LLC Cuts Stake in International Business Machines Corporation $IBM

Metis Global Partners LLC reduced its holdings in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 66,085 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 2,479 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in International Business Machines were worth $19,575,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IBM. Family CFO Inc purchased a new stake in International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Basepoint Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Joseph Group Capital Management purchased a new stake in International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. SWAN Capital LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, DecisionPoint Financial LLC grew its holdings in International Business Machines by 1,666.7% during the 4th quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC now owns 106 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 58.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting International Business Machines

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

• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer publicly favored IBM over Xanadu Quantum, saying investors should “buy IBM” if they want exposure to the quantum theme, which can reinforce confidence in IBM as a more credible and profitable long-term AI/quantum name. Jim Cramer Recommends IBM Over Xanadu Quantum
• Positive Sentiment: IBM announced an expanded global collaboration with JA Worldwide to deliver AI and digital-skills education to up to one million high-school students, highlighting IBM’s efforts to build ecosystem adoption and strengthen its brand in AI. JA Worldwide and IBM Expand Global Collaboration with Goal of Delivering AI and Digital Skills to Up to One Million High-School Students
• Positive Sentiment: Several articles framed IBM as a strong long-term beneficiary of the quantum-computing boom, including coverage that described IBM as a “safer play” alongside Alphabet in the sector and another piece calling IBM a long-term buy tied to its recurring-revenue software and infrastructure engine. Quantum Computing Looks Like Nvidia in 2019. This Could Be the Generational Buy of the Decade.
• Neutral Sentiment: IBM CEO Arvind Krishna’s recent comments on quantum advantage, AI usage, and the company’s profit strategy keep IBM in the AI/quantum conversation, but the remarks were more strategic than immediately financial. IBM CEO Krishna on Quantum Advantage, Profit Strategy
• Neutral Sentiment: One analyst-style article argued that Celestica may be a better AI infrastructure buy than IBM due to faster growth and a cheaper valuation, which is a reminder that IBM still faces competition for investor capital in AI hardware/infrastructure. Celestica vs. IBM: Which AI Infrastructure Stock is the Better Buy?
• Negative Sentiment: Recent 247WallSt commentary said IBM has already rallied enough that some investors may prefer to wait for a pullback, and it also noted the stock is not cheap after IBM’s large quantum investment announcement. IBM Just Placed a $10 Billion Bet to Become the Nvidia of Quantum Computing

International Business Machines Trading Down 1.7%

Shares of International Business Machines stock opened at $272.78 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $248.79 and a 200-day simple moving average of $270.49. International Business Machines Corporation has a 12-month low of $212.34 and a 12-month high of $332.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. The stock has a market cap of $256.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.12, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.67.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The technology company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.81 by $0.10. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.61% and a return on equity of 37.23%. The business had revenue of $15.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $15.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.60 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 12.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 8th were issued a $1.69 dividend. This represents a $6.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 8th. This is a positive change from International Business Machines’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.68. International Business Machines’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 59.77%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on IBM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $317.00 to $283.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 18th. 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. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $380.00 to $320.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of International Business Machines from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Wedbush set a $350.00 price target on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, International Business Machines has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $304.17.

About International Business Machines

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.