IBM Stock Is Outperforming Nvidia's This Year. Are Shares a Buy?

Core Insights - IBM shares are outperforming Nvidia's in 2025, with a year-to-date increase of 45% compared to Nvidia's 42% [7] - The company is experiencing its strongest revenue growth in years, particularly in its AI solutions and quantum computing sectors [8][12] Company Performance - IBM's "AI book of business" grew 26% year-over-year, increasing from $7.5 billion to $9.5 billion, with software revenue rising 10% and infrastructure revenue climbing 17% [8] - The gross profit margin improved by 1.2% to 57.3%, and the company expects to achieve $4.5 billion in annual savings from improved productivity through AI solutions [9] - IBM's AI solutions consulting segment grew by $1.5 billion in Q3, indicating strong demand for its services [10] Quantum Computing Developments - IBM developed a quantum computing error correction algorithm that is 10 times faster than needed, enhancing the technology's practicality [12] - The company plans to build a quantum computer called Starling by 2029, projected to perform 20,000 times more operations than current models [13] - IBM's commitment to global leadership in quantum computing is demonstrated by the installation of Europe's first IBM Quantum system [14] Market Position and Valuation - Despite reaching an all-time high, IBM's stock is considered reasonably valued with a price-to-earnings ratio of 24, below the S&P 500 average of 31 [15] - The company offers a dividend yield of 2.2%, higher than any of the Magnificent Seven stocks, and has consistently surprised analysts with positive earnings [16] Future Outlook - The global $15.7 trillion AI revolution presents significant opportunities for IBM, which is positioned to benefit from its AI-driven efficiencies and cost savings [17]