IBM(US:IBM) Benzinga·2026-02-04 11:19Core Insights - IBM's stock has seen a rise in premarket trading following the announcement of a global request for proposals (RFP) aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence for transformative education and workforce development [1][2] Group 1: AI Initiative and Education - The initiative is part of the IBM Impact Accelerator program, which aims to collaborate with nonprofits and government organizations to improve learning and career transition solutions [2] - IBM's announcement underscores the urgent need for educational institutions to adapt to rapidly changing job requirements due to AI advancements, with 67% of executives believing that job roles are becoming shorter-lived and many current employee skills expected to be obsolete by 2030 [3] Group 2: RFP Objectives - The RFP seeks to address the challenges in education by inviting organizations to create AI-enabled tools that enhance teaching, learning, and workforce preparation [4] Group 3: Earnings and Analyst Insights - Investors are anticipating the next earnings report scheduled for April 22 [5] - The stock currently holds a Buy Rating with an average price target of $282.21, with recent analyst actions indicating a competitive edge in the market [6] - Key financial estimates include an EPS of $1.80 (up from $1.60 YoY) and a revenue estimate of $15.60 billion (up from $14.54 billion YoY), indicating a premium valuation with a P/E of 26.4x [7]