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Buy IBM Stock At $240?
IBMIBM(US:IBM) Forbesยท2025-08-19 13:40

Core Viewpoint - IBM's stock has declined 15% over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500, which rose 2% during the same period, primarily due to disappointing software segment sales in the latest quarterly report [2][3] Financial Performance - IBM's revenues have shown moderate growth, with a 2.7% increase from $62 billion to $64 billion over the last 12 months, compared to a 5.0% growth for the S&P 500 [6] - The company has a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 3.5, a price-to-free cash flow (P/FCF) ratio of 19.1, and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 38.2, compared to 3.2, 21.9, and 23.6 for the S&P 500 respectively [6] - IBM's operating income over the last four quarters was $11 billion, with an operating margin of 17.1%, and a net income of $5.8 billion, indicating a net income margin of 9.1% [14] Financial Stability - IBM's balance sheet is strong, with a debt figure of $68 billion and a market capitalization of $223 billion, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.4% [14] - Cash and cash equivalents amount to $15 billion, contributing to a cash-to-assets ratio of 10.4% [14] Growth Potential - The ongoing push to reaccelerate sales and leadership in emerging areas like quantum computing suggest that IBM's stock could merit a higher valuation multiple [4][11] - The company has shown solid operating execution and a good financial profile, indicating potential for future growth despite current valuation metrics [3][10] Resilience During Downturns - IBM has demonstrated better resilience than the S&P 500 during recent market sell-offs, indicating a strong downturn resilience [9][14]