Merit Financial Group LLC Boosts Stock Position in International Business Machines Corporation $IBM

Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM - Free Report) by 6.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 55,171 shares of the technology company's stock after acquiring an additional 3,417 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in International Business Machines were worth $15,514,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Portus Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Joseph Group Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of International Business Machines in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, SWAN Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the third quarter worth about $28,000. 58.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

International Business Machines Stock Up 1.7%

IBM opened at $232.74 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.79. The company has a market cap of $219.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.65, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.70. International Business Machines Corporation has a one year low of $199.19 and a one year high of $332.46. The business's fifty day moving average is $249.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $252.00.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $2.93. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.52% and a return on equity of 35.65%. The firm had revenue of $17.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $17.46 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.80 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Corporation will post 12.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 10th will be given a dividend of $1.69 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 10th. This represents a $6.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. International Business Machines's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.98%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on IBM shares. Argus reduced their price objective on shares of International Business Machines from $360.00 to $280.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on International Business Machines from $291.00 to $250.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on International Business Machines from $320.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Susquehanna decreased their price target on International Business Machines from $303.00 to $225.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered shares of International Business Machines from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $265.40.

Trending Headlines about International Business Machines

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

• Positive Sentiment: Maximo gains credibility with enterprise customers. New Verdantix research commissioned by Cohesive found that IBM Maximo users demonstrate higher maintenance maturity than industry peers, supporting demand for IBM’s asset-management and industrial software offerings. New Verdantix Research Finds IBM Maximo Users Demonstrate Higher Maintenance Maturity Than Industry Peers
• Positive Sentiment: Government and distribution expansion broaden IBM’s software opportunity. Maximo Government SaaS received FedRAMP Moderate authorization, potentially making it easier for U.S. agencies to adopt the platform. Separately, Arrow Electronics expanded its IBM distribution agreement to seven additional European countries. IBM Secures FedRAMP Moderate Authorization For Maximo Government SaaS Arrow Electronics adds seven countries to distribution coverage with IBM
• Positive Sentiment: AI remains a potential growth driver. Coverage highlights IBM’s positioning in the enterprise AI race, while industry research forecasts rapid expansion in agentic AI spending. IBM’s software and consulting exposure could benefit if companies increase spending on AI automation and workflow tools. IBM Makes Surprise Move in Nvidia AI Race
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor positioning is mixed. Quiver data showed more institutions added IBM shares than reduced positions in the latest quarter, and two company insiders made purchases. Analysts’ reported median price target of $310 is well above the recent trading range, although these signals are not guarantees of future performance.
• Negative Sentiment: Mainframe weakness is weighing on sentiment. Recent analysis points to a poor IBM Z/mainframe quarter, with investors concerned that product-cycle headwinds could offset software gains. The company’s latest reported revenue also came in below consensus despite earnings meeting expectations. IBM: Big Blue Sees Red Hat; Mainframe Headwinds, Software Tailwinds
• Negative Sentiment: A securities-fraud investigation adds risk. Bleichmar Fonti & Auld announced an investigation related to the IBM Z slowdown and the stock’s prior decline. The announcement is an allegation and does not establish wrongdoing, but it adds uncertainty and may pressure the shares. IBM Securities Fraud Investigation Initiated After IBM Z Product Slowdown and 25% Stock Drop

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.

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