International Business Machines Corp Stock Price, News & Analysis

IBM reported strong second-quarter 2024 results, with revenue reaching $15.8 billion, up 2% (4% at constant currency). The company's performance was driven by Software revenue growth of 7% and improved free cash flow. IBM's book of business for generative AI has grown to over $2 billion since the launch of watsonx a year ago.

Key financial highlights include:

• Gross Profit Margin (GAAP): 56.8%, up 180 basis points
• Pre-Tax Income Margin (GAAP): 14.1%, up 110 basis points
• Diluted Earnings Per Share (GAAP): $1.96, up 14%

IBM has raised its full-year free cash flow expectation to more than $12 billion. The company continues to expect constant currency revenue growth consistent with its mid-single digit model for 2024.

IBM has introduced two new SkillsBuild certificates in cybersecurity and data analytics, designed in collaboration with community colleges. These certificates will be available to students across Alabama, California Bay Area, Colorado, and Louisiana community college systems this fall.

The certificates are accessible to various learners, from first-time degree seekers to career changers. They were developed with academic and industry experts, including Jobs for the Future (JFF) and a coalition of industry professionals. Each certificate requires 60-65 hours of coursework and can be integrated into existing college curricula.

The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends 12 credits for the Cybersecurity Certificate and 8 credits for the Data Analytics Certificate. These initiatives are part of IBM's commitment to provide 30 million people with new skills for future jobs by 2030.

IBM has secured a five-year contract with $26 million in initial funding from USAID to support its Cybersecurity Protection and Response (CPR) program in the Europe and Eurasia region. The contract aims to strengthen the ability of host government agencies and critical infrastructure operators to combat cyber threats. IBM will provide cybersecurity-related program management, incident response, and capacity building services to help USAID build a secured, interoperable, and resilient digital ecosystem.

IBM's global experience in cybersecurity services, including monitoring 150 billion+ security events per day in over 130 countries, will be leveraged to support USAID's strategic goals of improving development and humanitarian assistance outcomes through digital technology.

IBM and JLL have announced a global sustainability solution powered by IBM Envizi technology and delivered by JLL's sustainability services team. This collaboration aims to address ESG reporting and data management challenges in the commercial real estate (CRE) sector.

Key points:

• JLL's Sustainability Program Management will now use IBM Envizi ESG Suite for data management and reporting.
• By 2025, 30% of market demand for low carbon office space is expected to be unmet.
• Only 11% of surveyed organizations integrate ESG metrics into real estate and facilities management.
• Companies that operationalize sustainability are 52% more likely to outperform peers in profitability.
• The initial rollout will offer thousands of JLL clients' sites the opportunity to onboard to IBM Envizi software.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) will announce its second-quarter 2024 financial results on July 24, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET through a live webcast. Investors can access the webcast and related materials at www.ibm.com/investor. A replay of the call, along with associated charts and prepared remarks, will be available post-event. This announcement will provide insights into IBM's financial performance for the quarter, potentially impacting investor sentiment and stock performance. For further information, media inquiries can be directed to Tim Davidson at IBM Corporate Communications.

On July 10, 2024, IBM reaffirmed its commitment to the Rome Call for AI Ethics at the AI Ethics for Peace: World Religions commit to the Rome Call event in Hiroshima. The event, hosted by the Vatican's RenAIssance Foundation, saw the co-signage of Eastern religious leaders to advance ethical AI development. IBM has been a key player in the Rome Call since 2020 and has led several initiatives, including the AI Ethics Global University Summit and the AI Alliance, aimed at promoting responsible and transparent AI innovation. IBM's commitment to ethical AI is reflected in its internal governance, products like watsonx, and its collaboration with over 100 global entities to democratize AI development and enhance societal benefits.

IBM and Microsoft have announced a collaboration to enhance cybersecurity for clients, focusing on modernizing security operations and protecting hybrid cloud identities. IBM's Threat Detection and Response (TDR) Cloud Native service will integrate Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, and Defender for Cloud to accelerate threat detection and response. IBM's global security analysts will provide 24/7 monitoring and automated remediation across hybrid cloud environments. Additionally, the collaboration leverages Microsoft's Entra suite and IBM's automation expertise to optimize identity management, improving security and cost efficiency. This partnership aims to support businesses in their cloud and AI-driven digital transformation journeys.

IBM announced the completion of its acquisition of StreamSets and webMethods from Software AG, enhancing its capabilities in integration, API management, and data ingestion. This acquisition integrates these leading technologies into IBM's AI, data, and automation solutions.

StreamSets, with its real-time data ingestion capabilities, will be incorporated into IBM's watsonx platform, enabling better data management and AI deployment. webMethods' Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) will expand IBM's automation solutions, offering comprehensive application and data integration to foster innovation.

Serving over 1,500 companies globally, StreamSets and webMethods are expected to boost IBM's reach and capabilities in handling the growing needs for AI and data integration. The integration market is projected to exceed $18 billion by 2027, according to IDC.

Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale is strengthening its partnership with IBM to accelerate the deployment of generative AI through IBM's watsonx platform. This initiative is part of an ongoing strategy since 2016, which freed up nearly 1 million hours of administrative work in 2023. The collaboration aims to deploy 35 AI use cases across Crédit Mutuel and CIC networks, with the first set available this summer. The bank will also leverage IBM and Red Hat's InstructLab technique to design models using its own data. The focus is on enhancing customer experience, risk management, and compliance. The initiative aligns with Crédit Mutuel's ethical AI charter, ensuring respectful and transparent use of AI. The group will run these AI processes in its datacenters located in France and Europe.