IBM
Hybrid cloud and AI technology leader providing enterprise software, consulting, and infrastructure solutions across industries
What the page says before deeper research
Quality, growth, value, ownership, risk, and source confidence.
Moat 85/100 with low retention risk.
Growth appears mixed from +9.7% YoY revenue growth.
Forward P/E of 18.2x versus +9.7% growth gives a 1.9x multiple-to-growth read.
No SEC-backed 13F layer is matched yet, so ownership confirmation is unavailable.
Monitor valuation, retention, and AI disruption risk.
Fundamentals from finnhub as of 2026-05-17; ownership confirmation is not available here.
This is the clearest available operating check in the provided data.
Beginner valuation check
Data pending from FMP or Finnhub.
Negative price performance shows recent market sentiment, not a full investment thesis.
Forward P/E around 18.2x means investors pay about $18.2 for each expected $1 of future profit per share, usually the next 12 months or next fiscal year. It is a forecast, not a fact.
A P/E around 19.2x means investors pay about $19.2 for each $1 the company earned per share over the last 12 months, usually the last four quarterly reports.
Source: market data index. As of May 21, 2026. P/E can be unavailable or misleading when earnings are negative.
Beginner guide
IBM makes smart computer systems and AI tools that help big companies and governments solve really hard problems and manage their technology.
Hybrid cloud and AI technology leader providing enterprise software, consulting, and infrastructure solutions across industries
IBM makes money through Software (~44% of revenue), Consulting (~32% of revenue), and Infrastructure (~24% of revenue).
Watson AI deeply embedded in enterprise workflows with custom model governance - switching requires rebuilding entire ML operations
IBM can disappoint if execution, competition, valuation, or demand cycles weaken growth, margins, customer retention, or investor confidence.
IBM is like a business operating system for software: customers pay because replacing it can be disruptive.
You are basically betting that IBM can keep turning software into durable value while managing execution, competition, valuation, or demand cycles.
A 0-100 shortcut for how defensible the business looks in this company brief. IBM is scored at 85.
How painful it is for customers to leave. this company brief rates IBM as high.
Whether existing customers tend to spend more or less over time. The company brief model uses 105%.
The main pieces of the company here are Software, Consulting, and Infrastructure.
Price divided by earnings. It is a quick valuation check, but it can mislead when earnings are temporarily high, low, or negative.
A quarterly filing that shows what many large institutional investors owned at quarter end.
The first four questions
IBM’s software platform, especially Red Hat, watsonx AI, automation, security, and data tools, can stay sticky because enterprise workflows are costly to replace and support long-lived contracts.
IBM can lose momentum if enterprise AI adoption stalls, consulting demand softens, or customers slow spending across software and infrastructure.
Software (~44% of revenue)
Next earnings date unavailable from configured sources.
Bull / Neutral / Bear
IBM keeps monetizing its installed base across software, consulting, and infrastructure, but the market continues to focus on execution and valuation rather than a fast re-rating.
Forward P/E stays near 18.2x while growth remains steady.
Software remains the main growth engine while IBM keeps embedding watsonx AI and hybrid cloud tools into mission-critical workflows, reinforcing switching costs.
Software contribution stays strong and revenue growth remains positive.
IBM keeps monetizing its installed base across software, consulting, and infrastructure, but the market continues to focus on execution and valuation rather than a fast re-rating.
Forward P/E stays near 18.2x while growth remains steady.
If enterprise demand weakens or AI/consulting execution underdelivers, IBM’s growth narrative can fade even with its sticky customer base.
Revenue growth slows and customer retention weakens.
Beginner checklist
Needs earnings calendar data from a provider.
This is the clearest available operating check in the provided data.
Margin trend needs company financial statement data; do not infer it from price movement.
A valuation anchor, but it should be read alongside growth and business durability.
No SEC-backed ownership rows are available for this ticker yet.
Needs insider transaction data from a provider.
For IBM, watch whether software stays the largest and most durable operating engine.
IBM is exposure to enterprise technology operating model with high switching costs and 105% net revenue retention.
Watson AI deeply embedded in enterprise workflows with custom model governance - switching requires rebuilding entire ML operations
The main question is whether the company can keep customer value compounding without margin pressure eroding the moat.
Pro access unlocks the workflow simulator for this company brief.
Simulator coverage pending
This ticker has a company brief, but richer workflow modules have not been built yet.
No SEC-backed 13F rows are matched for this ticker yet. We do not fabricate ownership rows.
- Watson AI deeply embedded in enterprise workflows with custom model governance - switching requires rebuilding entire ML operations
- Z mainframe architecture running 70% of Fortune 500 core systems - decades of mission-critical data and applications create ultimate vendor lock-in
- Red Hat acquisition created unmatched hybrid cloud platform combining containers + traditional enterprise - competitors can't match both
- QRadar SIEM contains years of custom security rules and threat intelligence - replacing requires re-training entire SOC operations
- DataStage ETL pipelines with complex business logic built over 10-20 years - migration risk too high for most enterprises