Group 1: Market Overview - The S&P 500 is expected to have an above-average year in 2025 following a rapid recovery from a steep sell-off in April, with gains of over 20% in both 2023 and 2024 [1][2] Group 2: WM (Waste Management) - WM has outperformed the S&P 500 over the last five and ten years, despite the S&P's gains being driven by megacap tech stocks [4][6] - The company has a stable business model focused on waste management, which is essential as population and economic growth increase the demand for waste collection and processing [5][6] - WM reported a 29.9% total company margin under adjusted EBITDA, with a 7.1% growth in its legacy business and 19% overall revenue growth due to the acquisition of Stericycle [7][9] - The Stericycle acquisition, valued at $7.2 billion, enhances WM's position in the healthcare waste market, while a previous acquisition of Advanced Disposal for $4.6 billion expanded its geographic coverage [8][9] - WM has a premium valuation at 29.9 times forward earnings, supported by stable free cash flow used for dividends, stock repurchases, and reinvestment [9][10] - The company has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, with a recent 10% increase, resulting in a yield of 1.5% [10][11] Group 3: IBM (International Business Machines) - IBM, despite being over a century old, is characterized as a growth stock due to its strong exposure to AI, with a generative-AI book of business valued at $7.5 billion since 2023 [12][14] - The stock offers an attractive forward dividend yield of 2.6%, making it a solid option for passive income while benefiting from AI market growth [13][18] - IBM's five-year average payout ratio of 156% raises concerns, but its strong free cash flow covers the dividend, alleviating investor worries [16] Group 4: Delta Air Lines - Delta Air Lines offers a dividend with a current yield of 1.4% and is positioned as a growth stock, contrary to traditional views of airlines as cyclical businesses [19][20] - The company's focus on sustainable premium cabin revenue and loyalty programs reduces earnings cyclicality, contributing to long-term growth potential [20][21] - Delta is well-positioned to manage rising airport costs, as these costs represent a smaller portion of its business compared to low-cost carriers, and the airline industry is exhibiting more disciplined behavior [22]

IBM (IBM) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 23, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsOlympia McNerney - Global Head - IRArvind Krishna - Chairman , President & CEOJames Kavanaugh - SVP & CFOAmit Daryanani - Senior MD - Equity ResearchBen Reitzes - MD & Head - Technology ResearchErik Woodring - Managing Director - Equity ResearchBrian Essex - Executive DirectorMatthew Swanson - Director - Equity ResearchConference Call ParticipantsWamsi Mohan - Senior Equity Research AnalystJim Schneider - Senior Equity AnalystOper ...

IBM (IBM) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 23, 2025 05:00 PM ET Speaker0Welcome and thank you for standing by. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. Today's conference is being recorded. If you have any objections, you may disconnect at this time. Now, I will turn the meeting over to Olympia McNurney, IBM's Global Head of Investor Relations.Olympia, you may begin.Speaker1Thank you. I'd like to welcome you to IBM's second quarter twenty twenty five earnings presentation. I'm Olympia McNerney, a ...

2Q 2025 Earnings July 23, 2025 ibm.com/investor Forward-looking statements and non-GAAP information Certain comments made in this presentation may be characterized as forward looking under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements are based on the company's current assumptions regarding future business and financial performance. Those statements by their nature address matters that are uncertain to different degrees. Those statements involve a number of factors that c ...

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna appears at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 16, 2024.IBM shares fell as much as 5% in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech conglomerate issued second-quarter results that topped Wall Street projections.Here's how the company did in comparison with LSEG consensus:Earnings per share: $2.80 adjusted vs. $2.64 expectedRevenue: $16.98 billion vs. $16.59 billionIBM's revenue increased nearly 8% year over year in the quarter, according to a statement. Growth in ...

Group 1 - IBM's stock has outperformed the S&P 500 index this year, rising 30% compared to the index's 7% increase, which may pose challenges for its upcoming earnings report [2] - Analysts have mixed expectations for IBM's Q2 performance, with optimism surrounding its software business, particularly the Red Hat acquisition, despite a potential slowdown in consulting services [2][3] - The software business is considered a core pillar for IBM, with expectations of a 10% year-over-year revenue growth for the full year, despite a slowdown in Q1 [4] Group 2 - IBM is expected to report Q2 revenue of $16.6 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $2.65, according to analyst forecasts [5] - The consulting business may face challenges in the second half of the year due to federal budget cuts, but its overall reliance on federal business is low, accounting for only about 5% of total revenue [4] - The anticipated growth in the software segment is supported by increased enterprise investment in AI and the modernization of software through hybrid cloud adoption [3][4]

Core Insights - Investors are focusing on IT services stocks that balance innovation and stability, with Unisys Corporation (UIS) and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) as key players in this sector [1] Unisys Corporation (UIS) - Unisys is undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at expanding solution-based revenue streams, operational optimization, and enhancing brand relevance in AI and cybersecurity [2] - The Device Subscription Services (DSS) and Digital Workplace Solutions (DWS) are major growth drivers, with significant contracts signed for large-scale device management [2] - The backlog in the DWS segment is growing at a double-digit pace year over year, positioning Unisys for sequential growth in the latter half of 2025 [3] - Unisys is enhancing its security portfolio with Post-Quantum Cryptography solutions and AI-enabled frameworks, which are expected to drive revenue growth despite current discretionary spending softness [4] - The company aims for $100 million in pre-pension free cash flow in 2025 through operational improvements and cost control [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UIS's EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 28.9%, with earnings estimates for 2025 revised upward by 132% in the past 60 days [11] International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) - IBM is enhancing its AI portfolio by integrating governance and security into a unified platform, marking a significant step toward responsible AI deployment [6] - The software segment, which constitutes nearly 45% of IBM's business, achieved 9% growth in Q1 2025, driven by strong demand for Red Hat and AI-powered tools [8] - IBM's shift to subscription and platform-based services has resulted in an 80% recurring revenue base in software, contributing to high-margin gains [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IBM's 2025 EPS implies a year-over-year growth of 6%, with earnings estimates revised upward by 0.4% in the past 60 days [12] - IBM shares have surged 32.8% year-to-date, reflecting strong market performance [13] Comparative Analysis - Unisys is positioned for upside due to its transformation-driven momentum and focus on innovation in AI and cybersecurity, while IBM offers stability and scale but may have more moderate upside potential [17][18] - UIS is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 5X, below its median of 10.59X, while IBM's forward sales multiple is at 25.85X, above its median of 21.47X [15] - Unisys's emphasis on recurring revenues and emerging technologies provides a compelling turnaround narrative, contrasting with IBM's established market position [18][20]

Core Viewpoint - IBM has experienced a significant stock rally, with shares more than doubling since the start of 2024, driven by advancements in AI and quantum computing [2][3]. Group 1: Quantum Computing Developments - IBM plans to build the world's first large-scale "fault-tolerant" quantum supercomputer, named IBM Quantum Starling, by 2029, which is expected to have 20,000 times the operational power of current systems [4]. - The Starling system will be capable of processing 100 million quantum operations, with a subsequent processor, Bluejay, projected to enable over one billion operations by 2033 [5]. - A detailed roadmap includes milestones such as the Quantum Loom testing in 2025 and various upgrades leading to the Starling launch [12]. Group 2: AI Innovations - IBM's focus on agentic AI aims to assist large enterprises in managing workflows and proprietary data, exemplified by the Granite AI model on the Watsonx platform [6]. - The AI segment has shown strong performance, with software sales reaching over $6.3 billion in Q1 2025, marking a 9% year-over-year increase [7][8]. - The recurring revenue from products like Red Hat supports this growth, indicating a robust business model [8]. Group 3: Financial Performance - IBM reported strong earnings on April 23, with an EPS of $1.60 surpassing the expected $1.42, and revenue of $14.54 billion exceeding the forecast of $14.41 billion [9]. - The company generated a record $2 billion in free cash flow and improved its EBITDA margin by 240 basis points due to AI workflow automation [10]. - Full-year guidance projects a 5% revenue growth and $13.5 billion in free cash flow generation [10]. Group 4: Analyst Ratings and Stock Forecast - The stock has received multiple analyst upgrades, with price targets ranging from $285 to $300, indicating potential upside from current levels [13]. - The average 12-month stock price forecast is $250.31, suggesting a moderate buy rating among analysts [10][13].

Group 1: IBM Software Segment Performance - IBM's Software segment revenue increased to $6.34 billion in Q1 2025 from $5.9 billion a year ago, driven by growth in Hybrid Platform & Solutions, Red Hat, Automation, Data & AI, and Transaction Processing [1][7] - The revenue estimate for the Software segment is projected at $7.52 billion for 2025, indicating a year-over-year growth of 11.6% at constant currency, with significant contributions from Hybrid Cloud (up 23% to $1.9 billion) and Automation (up 15.4% to $1.87 billion) [3][7] Group 2: Strategic Acquisitions and Integrations - The acquisition of HashiCorp Inc. for an enterprise value of $6.4 billion has created synergies across IBM's strategic growth areas, enhancing cloud infrastructure management and hybrid cloud security [2] - HashiCorp's tools, Terraform and Vault, have been integrated with IBM's Red Hat platforms, improving IBM Software's capabilities in optimizing IT spending and reducing cloud costs through automation [2] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other major tech firms like Microsoft and Amazon are also focusing on hybrid cloud solutions, with Microsoft Azure expanding its global presence and AWS maintaining a dominant position in the cloud-computing market [4][5] Group 4: Valuation and Market Performance - IBM's stock has surged 60.7% over the past year, outperforming the industry, and currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.74, which is above the industry average [6][10]

Summary of IBM FY Conference Call - May 29, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) - **CEO**: Arvind Krishna, who has been with IBM for 34 years and CEO since April 2020 [2][3] Key Industry Insights - **Core Technologies**: Focus on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) as fundamental technologies for client success [4][5] - **R&D Investment**: R&D spending has increased by approximately 60% over the last five years, with over 30 acquisitions to support growth in software and consulting [6] - **Market Position**: IBM's hybrid cloud portfolio, particularly after the acquisition of Red Hat, is positioned as a market leader [5] Financial Performance - **Growth Metrics**: IBM has committed to mid-single-digit growth and has exceeded its free cash flow growth target of approximately $750 million per year [6][7] - **Revenue Composition**: Software now accounts for 45% of total revenues, up from low 20% in 2020, with growth rates improving from 2% to 9% [28][29] AI Strategy - **AI Business**: IBM's AI business is valued at $6 billion, with 80% from consulting and 20% from software [13][14] - **Client Investment**: A survey of 2,000 C-suite leaders indicates a doubling of AI investment over the next two years, although only 25% have seen the expected ROI from past investments [18][19] - **Internal AI Deployment**: IBM has saved $3.5 billion through AI implementation across 70 enterprise workflows, achieving high automation rates in HR and IT help desks [21][22] Hybrid Cloud and Software Growth - **Red Hat Performance**: Red Hat is expected to grow at mid-teens rates, driven by the demand for secure operating systems and containerization [36][38] - **OpenShift Success**: OpenShift has seen a 13-fold revenue increase over five years, indicating strong demand for container platforms [29][39] Consulting Business - **Consulting Growth**: Despite short-term uncertainty affecting discretionary consulting, long-term growth is expected to be mid-single digits, driven by AI and hybrid cloud needs [49][50] - **Partnerships**: Strong partnerships with major players like Amazon, Microsoft, and SAP are expected to enhance consulting growth [52][56] Mainframe and Transaction Processing - **Mainframe Demand**: The upcoming z17 mainframe is expected to be 17% more power-efficient, with strong early demand signals [58][61] - **Transaction Processing Growth**: Growth is primarily driven by existing clients and capacity increases rather than new client acquisitions [44][47] Quantum Computing - **Leadership Position**: IBM has built 75 quantum computers and aims for quantum advantage by the end of the decade [67][72] - **Commercialization Strategy**: Future commercialization may involve offering quantum computing as a service rather than physical sales [96] Capital Allocation - **Strategy**: IBM is committed to dividends, with excess cash primarily allocated to M&A that aligns with strategic growth areas [81][83] Conclusion - **Market Perception**: The market may not fully appreciate IBM's growth flywheel, which combines R&D, M&A, and strong client relationships to drive efficiency and profitability [87][90]