International Business Machines Corporation $IBM Stock Acquired by Vestor Capital LLC

Key Points

• Vestor Capital increased its IBM stake by 410.2% in the third quarter, adding 56,050 shares to hold 69,714 shares valued at about $15.3 million.
• IBM reported quarterly earnings of $2.95 per share, beating the $2.85 estimate, while revenue of $17.1 billion exceeded expectations and rose 4.7% year over year.
• Analysts have a consensus Moderate Buy rating and an average price target of $266.88; IBM also announced a quarterly dividend of $1.69 per share.

Vestor Capital LLC increased its stake in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM - Free Report) by 410.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 69,714 shares of the technology company's stock after purchasing an additional 56,050 shares during the quarter. Vestor Capital LLC's holdings in International Business Machines were worth $15,332,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Harborfront Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its position in shares of International Business Machines by 114.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 103 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.96% of the company's stock.

Key International Business Machines News

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

• Positive Sentiment: IBM deployed its first quantum computer in Illinois, at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. The installation builds research and industry partnerships and is part of a state initiative expected to create 750 technology jobs. It strengthens IBM’s quantum-computing presence, though commercial returns may take time. Can IBM's Latest Quantum System Boost Illinois' Innovation Future?
• Positive Sentiment: IBM-owned Apptio added connections and cost-management tools to help businesses track AI usage and spending, forecast budgets, and assess investments against business results. The update could help IBM capture demand as enterprises seek to manage the cost of adopting AI. Apptio Expands Portfolio to Help Enterprises Connect AI Spending to Business Value
• Positive Sentiment: Quantum X Labs said its AI-powered error-correction program is running on three IBM quantum processors and showed up to 20% fewer logical decoding failures. This offers a potential third-party validation of IBM hardware, although the announcement comes from Quantum X Labs rather than IBM. Quantum X Labs Expands AI-Powered Quantum Error Correction Program
• Neutral Sentiment: A Seeking Alpha analysis sees IBM’s enterprise AI portfolio and software growth as strengths, but rates the shares Hold, citing competition and a valuation it considers fair. That view suggests limited near-term upside based on its $249 price target. IBM: A Full Enterprise AI Stack, But Rivals Keep It A Hold
• Negative Sentiment: The European Union is suing IBM and partners Atos and Leonardo over repeated delays in developing the bloc’s Entry/Exit border system. The case raises potential legal costs and could weigh on IBM’s reputation and government-contract execution; the reports do not specify the financial exposure. EU sues IBM and partners over troubled border system

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on IBM shares. Susquehanna set a $275.00 price target on International Business Machines in a report on Friday. Citigroup lifted their price objective on International Business Machines from $245.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Oppenheimer downgraded International Business Machines from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on International Business Machines from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on International Business Machines from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Nineteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $266.88.

Insider Buying and Selling at International Business Machines

In other International Business Machines news, SVP Robert Thomas sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.32, for a total transaction of $5,758,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 47,800 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,009,296. This trade represents a 34.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

International Business Machines Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE IBM opened at $246.32 on Tuesday. The firm's 50-day moving average is $236.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $248.39. The company has a market capitalization of $232.80 billion, a PE ratio of 21.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.78. International Business Machines Corporation has a 12-month low of $199.19 and a 12-month high of $332.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.80.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The technology company reported $2.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.85 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $17.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.82 billion. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 34.37% and a net margin of 15.99%. International Business Machines's revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.65 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Corporation will post 12.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.69 per share. This represents a $6.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 10th. International Business Machines's dividend payout ratio is presently 57.63%.

About International Business Machines

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology company that provides software, consulting, infrastructure and related services to businesses and public-sector organizations. Its offerings include hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence solutions, enterprise software, IT consulting, and systems such as IBM Z mainframes and Power servers.

IBM also develops technologies in areas including data management, automation, cybersecurity and quantum computing. Its consulting teams help clients design, build and manage technology systems and business processes.

The company traces its roots to the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, formed in 1911, and adopted the name International Business Machines in 1924.

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