While many high-flying tech stocks don't pay dividends at all, investors can still find attractive dividends within the tech sector. International Business Machines (IBM -1.31%) and AT&T (T -1.97%) are two great examples. On top of solid dividends, both IBM and AT&T have been delivering impressive gains to investors over the past few years. While the past doesn't predict the future, these two dividend stocks look attractive for long-term investors. IBMShares of IBM have more than doubled over the past three ...

Core Insights - IBM's stock has reached all-time highs, driven by strong retail investor interest and trading volume, raising questions about the sustainability of this momentum [1] - The recent rally is attributed to IBM's successful execution of its core strategy focused on making AI practical for large enterprises, particularly through its watsonx platform [2][3] - The company's generative AI business has exceeded $5 billion, indicating strong customer demand, supported by strategic acquisitions like HashiCorp for automation and security tools [3][4] Financial Performance - IBM's Q1 2025 earnings report surpassed analyst estimates, demonstrating the positive impact of its strategic initiatives on financial results [4] - The stock's trailing P/E ratio is around 50, but the forward P/E ratio is more moderate at 27, reflecting market expectations of future AI-driven earnings growth [6] - IBM's dividend has been increased for the 30th consecutive year, with 43% of cash flow covering the dividend, indicating sustainability [7] Market Reaction - Analysts are responding positively to IBM's strategic execution, with the stock receiving a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and price targets raised by firms like Wedbush and Bank of America to $325 and $320 respectively [11] - Over the past year, IBM shares have gained approximately 69%, with a year-to-date increase of over 32%, including a notable 10-day winning streak in June [11] Future Outlook - Investors should monitor key metrics such as revenue growth in new software segments, free cash flow strength, and updates on the HashiCorp integration in future earnings calls to confirm the breakout [8] - The combination of price momentum, analyst upgrades, and solid AI execution suggests that IBM's rally may represent the early phase of a significant and sustained breakout [9][10]

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].