3 Reasons to Buy IBM Stock Right Now

Core Insights - IBM has shown significant stock performance in 2025, with shares rising 35%, outperforming the S&P 500, due to a renewed focus on hybrid cloud computing and enterprise AI [2][3] Group 1: Enterprise AI Momentum - The AI industry is rapidly evolving, with unprecedented capital investment in AI data centers, making it challenging to predict future winners [4] - IBM's strategy focuses on delivering tangible value to enterprise customers through AI solutions, rather than developing costly frontier AI models [5] - IBM has secured $9.5 billion in AI-related business, with 80% from consulting signings, and the AI consulting market is projected to grow from $8.75 billion in 2024 to $49.1 billion by 2032 [6] Group 2: Quantum Computing Potential - Quantum computing, while not yet commercially viable, has the potential to revolutionize the industry, with IBM aiming to demonstrate quantum advantage by the end of this year and deliver a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029 [8][10] - The quantum computing market is estimated to reach $97 billion by 2035, positioning IBM at the forefront of this long-term opportunity [11] Group 3: Reliable Dividend - IBM offers a reliable dividend, currently at $1.68 per share with a yield of approximately 2.2%, and has maintained continuous quarterly dividends since 1916 [12][13] - The stock is reasonably priced relative to free cash flow, with a forecasted free cash flow of $14 billion for 2025, resulting in a price-to-free cash flow ratio of about 20 [16] Group 4: Growth Prospects - While IBM is not classified as a growth stock, there is potential for free cash flow expansion in 2026 and beyond as the AI business grows, with quantum computing expected to become a significant revenue source [17]