UBS Upgrades IBM, Sees More Balanced Expectations Ahead

Core Viewpoint - International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is facing significant challenges due to advancements in AI technology that could impact its legacy systems and business model, particularly in relation to COBOL programming [3][4][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - UBS upgraded IBM from Sell to Neutral with a price target of $236, indicating a more balanced outlook following recent stock volatility [2]. - On February 23, IBM shares experienced a notable decline of approximately 13.2%, closing at $223.35, primarily due to concerns raised by Anthropic's announcement of its Claude Code AI tool [3]. Group 2: Impact of AI on Legacy Systems - IBM has historically supported COBOL-based systems, which are critical for various operations such as banking and retail [4]. - The introduction of AI tools like Anthropic's Claude Code can automate the modernization of COBOL code, which has traditionally been a complex and costly process [5]. - The decline in the number of COBOL programmers has made AI tools increasingly valuable, as they can expedite the analysis and updating of large codebases [5]. Group 3: Broader Industry Concerns - The developments surrounding AI have raised broader concerns among investors regarding its potential impact on established technology companies, including IBM [6]. - IBM operates in the hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting sectors, with its business divided into four main segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing [6].