On the stock market since 1915, it operates in the world of technology. It has 286,800 employees. Now — the numbers.
This is an established company with proven profits.
The gap is $52.7B. In times of high interest rates, a gap like that can squeeze a company.
We compared this company with its own sector across five subjects.
A score of 50 means class average.
Clearly above the class average — a step short of the very top.
Clearly below the class average.
Clearly above the class average — a step short of the very top.
There is growth, but not at top-of-the-class tempo.
Clearly below the class average.
Financial Strength: The cash-and-debt balance is thin; the buffer for hard times is slim.
Price Momentum: The stock has lagged the market in recent months; investor interest is weak right now.
angles, checked one by one.
The 2 that stand out are on screen; the rest came back neutral.
The council scores out of 10; report-card grades are out of 100.
The stock trades 28% below its peak. The market has trimmed its expectations for the company.
The net profit margin is 16% — still a thick cushion, though costs have been eating into it lately.
It met or beat analyst expectations in 8 of the last 8 quarters — consistency is a promise kept.
Over the last 12 months, company executives reported 87 buys and 66 sells. Management buying with its own money is usually read as a good sign.
The balance sheet offers little cushion against a rough stretch. Report-card grade: 26/100.
Buyers haven’t stepped back in yet; the price hasn’t found its footing. Report-card grade: 40/100. For a turnaround signal, the stock first needs to close the gap with the market.
On our five-subject report card, IBM sits in the middle of the class: some subjects shine, others don’t. The grade moves as the numbers move.
The takeaway: IBM is an established business that has proven its profits for years. The real debate here isn’t the price — it’s whether the company can keep up this pace.
The total grade weighs these five subjects against the sector — it isn’t a simple average of the five.