Core Viewpoint - Analysts expect IBM to report quarterly earnings of $4.33 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.5%, with revenues projected at $19.2 billion, up 9.4% from the previous year [1] Earnings Estimates - Changes in earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor reactions, with empirical research showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock performance [2] Key Metrics Projections - Analysts project 'Revenue- Software' to be $8.90 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of +12.4% [4] - 'Revenue- Consulting' is expected to reach $5.43 billion, reflecting a +5% change from the prior year [4] - 'Revenue- Other' is estimated at $32.55 million, showing a +12.3% year-over-year change [4] - 'Revenue- Infrastructure' is forecasted at $4.67 billion, suggesting a +9.8% increase year over year [5] - 'Revenue- Infrastructure Support' is projected to be $1.31 billion, with a +0.7% change [5] - 'Revenue- Transaction Processing' is expected to reach $2.55 billion, indicating a +6.4% change [5] - 'Revenue- Hybrid Infrastructure' is anticipated to be $3.36 billion, reflecting a +12.1% change [6] Segment Profit Projections - 'Segment Profit- Software' is expected to reach $3.62 billion, compared to $3.10 billion in the same quarter last year [6] - 'Segment Profit- Infrastructure' is projected at $1.16 billion, up from $1.06 billion year over year [6] - 'Segment Profit- Financing' is estimated at $97.25 million, compared to $94.00 million in the previous year [7] - 'Segment Profit- Consulting' is expected to be $685.71 million, up from $606.00 million in the same quarter last year [7] Stock Performance - Over the past month, IBM shares have recorded a return of -3.3%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has changed by +0.6% [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the journey of an individual transitioning from a potential career in politics to a focus on value investing, emphasizing the importance of risk management and long-term wealth growth [1] Group 1: Career Transition - The individual initially pursued a career in politics but faced challenges that led to a shift towards finance and investment [1] - After experiencing financial setbacks in 2019, the decision was made to study value investing to create wealth and mitigate risks [1] Group 2: Professional Experience - From 2020 to 2022, the individual worked in a sales role at a law firm, where they became the top-grossing salesman and managed a team, contributing to sales strategy [1] - The experience gained during this period was instrumental in assessing company prospects based on sales strategies [1] Group 3: Investment Advisory Role - Between 2022 and 2023, the individual served as an investment advisory representative with Fidelity, focusing on 401K planning [1] - Despite excelling in this role and passing Series exams ahead of schedule, there was frustration due to the reliance on modern portfolio theory, which conflicted with the individual's value investing approach [1] Group 4: Current Endeavors - In November 2023, the individual began writing for Seeking Alpha, sharing investment opportunities and insights with readers [1] - The articles serve as a platform for the individual to document their investment journey and the opportunities they pursue [1]

Core Insights - IBM has launched a comprehensive platform and consulting service called "IBM Enterprise Advantage" aimed at enhancing coordination for the surge of internal AI projects within enterprises [2][3] Group 1: Service Overview - IBM Enterprise Advantage integrates previously scattered AI projects, which were often limited to proof of concepts or specific applications [3] - The service allows AI managers to quickly build AI readiness processes on top of existing cloud providers, AI models, or core infrastructure without dismantling current systems [3][4] - The service is designed to address various types of enterprise debt, including technical, skill, data, and process debt, which have accumulated over years [3][4] Group 2: Market Potential - The service represents a new category of AI applications termed "service as software," which is expected to grow to $1.5 trillion in the next decade [5][8] - This category is characterized by automated, composable, and managed delivery methods, moving beyond traditional custom consulting [5][6] Group 3: Application Scenarios - Key use cases for IBM Enterprise Advantage include customer service automation, compliance and regulatory workflows, document-centric processes, supply chain optimization, and claims management [7][9] - The service is particularly valuable for medium to large enterprises with complex systems, regulatory requirements, or stalled AI projects [7][9]

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company operates with a team of experienced and qualified news journalists, ensuring independent content production [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The news team delivers insights across various sectors, including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Insights - IBM is expected to report higher revenues in its Consulting segment due to increased demand for technology consulting and business transformation services [1] Group 1: Consulting Segment Performance - The Consulting segment includes Strategy and Technology and Intelligent Operations, providing consulting and application management services that leverage industry and technology expertise [2] - IBM's partnership with Microsoft has been extended, enhancing its consulting capabilities through the integration of Microsoft's Copilot with IBM Consulting Advantage [3] - The integration of AI tools has resulted in significant efficiency gains, saving IBM 250,000 hours annually, which translates to $35 million in value [4] Group 2: Revenue Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Consulting revenues is projected at $5.43 billion, an increase from $5.17 billion in the same quarter last year [5] - Total revenue for IBM is estimated at $19.22 billion, up from $17.55 billion in the prior-year quarter, with earnings expected to grow to $4.33 per share from $3.92 [5] Group 3: Earnings Predictions - Current analysis does not predict an earnings beat for IBM in the fourth quarter, with an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [6]

Core Insights - IBM is expected to report higher revenues in the Software segment for Q4 2025, driven by product innovation and the increasing influence of watsonx.ai across various sectors [1] Group 1: Software Segment Performance - The Software segment encompasses Hybrid Cloud (previously Red Hat), Automation, and Data and Transaction Processing [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Software revenues is projected at $8.9 billion, up from $7.9 billion in the same quarter last year [6] - New AI partnerships with S&P Global and Groq are anticipated to enhance the utility of watsonx.ai in major industries, contributing to revenue growth [8] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships and Acquisitions - IBM partnered with S&P Global to integrate AI-powered tools for supply chain management, aiming to improve decision-making processes [3] - Collaboration with Groq focuses on accelerating AI deployment by integrating Groq's inference technology into IBM's offerings, addressing challenges in speed, cost, and reliability [4] - The acquisition of Confluent, Inc. is expected to modernize IBM's streaming data capabilities and expand its client base, further boosting Software segment revenues [5] Group 3: Overall Financial Expectations - Total revenue for IBM is estimated at $19.22 billion, an increase from $17.55 billion in the prior-year quarter [6] - The consensus estimate for earnings per share is $4.33, reflecting growth from $3.92 in the same quarter last year [6]

（IBM亚太区总经理Hans Dekkers） 北京，2026年1月22日 —— IBM亚太区总经理Hans Dekkers认为，技术不仅是关键的差异化优势，更是 一股向善的力量。他始终倡导通过数字化转型，助力亚太地区企业实现可持续增长、构筑韧性并拓展全 球市场。 在近期发表的文章中，Hans进一步指出：面对未来十年，打造"数字自主"能力已成为企业CEO必须肩负 的核心使命。全文如下： 过去一年，无论身处何处，每家企业都正经历一场划时代的变革。立足于巨大机遇与激增的不确定性双 重现实面前，放眼未来十年，"成为数字技术自主企业"（简称："数字自主"）不仅已是董事会层面的关 键议题，更是每位CEO必须承担的核心使命，这意味着企业要建立起对数据、技术与运营的选择权与掌 控力，最终自主定义发展路径，形成全新竞争力。 在一个超竞争的全球环境中，地缘政治格局波动、网络安全威胁升级、混合云、人工智能与量子计算等 指数级技术加速融合，正从根本上改变企业的运营方式，现在恰恰是CEO们必须作出决断的关键时刻。 为什么必须实现"数字自主"？IBM最新发布的白皮书《数字技术自主能力：时不我待，CEO采取行动以 确保未来》指出，CEO ...

Core Viewpoint - IBM is positioned as a significant player in the AI sector, with analysts optimistic about its upcoming quarterly results and long-term growth potential [1][2]. Group 1: Quarterly Results Expectations - Evercore ISI anticipates IBM will report Q4 results that are in line with or slightly better than expectations, driven by strengths in Infrastructure and improvements in Consulting [2]. - The firm expects IBM's cost-saving initiatives to yield $4.5 billion in gross run-rate savings by 2025, which will support margin expansion and EPS upside in Q4 [2]. Group 2: Future Guidance and Key Focus Areas - IBM is expected to provide formal guidance for CY26, with initial growth forecasts at the lower end of the mid-single-digit target range and approximately $15 billion in free cash flow [3]. - Investors will be looking for updates on AI bookings, the CFLT acquisition, quantum computing advancements, and the growth trajectory of Software and Consulting [3][4]. Group 3: Specific Updates of Interest - Key updates sought by investors include: 1) AI bookings and revenue disclosures, along with expectations for their contribution to growth in 2026 [4] 2) Details on the CFLT acquisition, including strategy, integration with IBM's software portfolio, and revenue/cost synergy opportunities [4] 3) Progress in Quantum Computing, aiming for quantum advantage by 2026 and an error-corrected computer by 2028 [4] 4) Software growth trajectory for 2026 and Consulting signings that could drive inflection in 2026 [4] 5) Updates on ongoing cost-saving initiatives [4].

Core Viewpoint - IBM's stock has experienced a decline of about 3% in the last week as investors await the Q4 2025 results, indicating a cautious market sentiment [1] Company Overview - IBM is a global provider of hybrid cloud, software, and services, with a market capitalization of approximately $272 billion [4] - The company has shifted its focus from commoditized IT services to more valuable software and AI-based enterprise workloads [4] Stock Performance - Currently, IBM's stock is trading around $295, down from a peak of over $320 earlier in the quarter, reflecting a market re-evaluation of the stock's pricing [2] - Over the past 52 weeks, IBM's stock has ranged from approximately $214 to just under $325, and despite recent corrections, it remains significantly higher than a year ago [5] Valuation Metrics - IBM is trading at a trailing P/E multiple of approximately 27x and a forward P/E multiple of about 25x, along with a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of approximately 4.2x, indicating a premium valuation compared to its historical averages [6] - The current valuation is driven by enthusiasm surrounding IBM's AI integration and mainframe solutions, raising questions about the sustainability of these multiples going into the earnings release [6] Market Context - The upcoming earnings report is seen as a potential sentiment reset rather than just a review of performance, as investors are becoming more selective during the earnings season [3] - The focus for IBM's report will be on the sustainability of software growth, free cash flow guidance, and the longevity of the Z17 cycle into 2026 [3]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the underperformance of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) shares and highlights the need for investors to be aware of this trend [1]. Group 1: Analyst Background - The analyst, Uttam, specializes in growth-oriented investment analysis, focusing on sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cloud software [1]. - Uttam has experience working in Silicon Valley with major technology firms like Apple and Google, leading teams [1]. - He co-authors The Pragmatic Optimist Newsletter, which is recognized by leading publications like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes [1]. Group 2: Investment Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in IBM shares through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives [2].