International Business Machines Corp Stock Price, News & Analysis

IBM's board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.64 per common share, payable on March 10, 2022, to stockholders of record by February 11, 2022. This marks the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders, having consistently paid dividends since 1916. The announcement underscores IBM's ongoing strategy to provide income for investors amidst evolving market conditions.

IBM reported fourth-quarter 2021 earnings, revealing a 6.5% increase in revenue to $16.7 billion, driven by hybrid cloud adoption. Software revenue grew by 8% while consulting revenue rose 13%. Hybrid cloud revenue reached $6.2 billion, up 16%. The company achieved a 183% increase in pre-tax income, totaling $2.9 billion. IBM's free cash flow for the year was $6.5 billion, down from previous figures, primarily due to structural action charges. The company is optimistic for 2022, aiming for mid-single digit revenue growth and strong cash flow.

IBM has announced a definitive agreement with Francisco Partners for the acquisition of healthcare data and analytics assets from its Watson Health business. This transaction includes key products and datasets such as Health Insights and MarketScan. Expected to close in Q2, the deal is subject to regulatory approvals. This strategic move will allow IBM to focus more on its hybrid cloud and AI initiatives while enabling Francisco Partners to leverage these assets for growth. Financial terms were not disclosed.

IBM announced that LG Electronics has joined the IBM Quantum Network on January 10, 2022. This partnership aims to explore quantum computing applications in various sectors, including big data, artificial intelligence, and IoT. LG will gain access to IBM's quantum systems and Qiskit, aiding their innovation strategy. This collaboration enhances quantum capabilities in Korea. Notably, IBM recently unveiled its 'Eagle' processor with 127 qubits, marking progress towards Quantum Advantage. The partnership involves over 170 clients leveraging IBM's quantum technology.

IBM Watson Advertising has announced its data availability from The Weather Company on AWS Data Exchange, enhancing cloud-based data access for businesses. This collaboration allows companies to leverage weather data to analyze consumer purchasing behavior across categories such as pharmaceuticals and apparel, using insights derived from AI. The data includes local weather conditions, historical data, and forecasts, aiming to optimize marketing and supply chain strategies. IBM also commits $1 billion to boost its partner ecosystem over three years, supporting cloud migration efforts.

HSBC and IBM have successfully tested a digital wallet settlement capability for direct transactions between central bank digital currencies (CBDC) in a hybrid cloud environment. This four-month experiment executed a comprehensive transactional lifecycle involving CBDCs, eBonds, and foreign exchange settlements. Initiated by Banque de France, the project highlights interoperability across ledgers using IBM's Hyperledger Fabric and R3's Corda, aiming to enhance efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness in financial transactions, benefiting the global financial services industry.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced the integration of its Digital Health Pass with Healthcare IT Leaders' Healthy Returns suite, enhancing COVID-19 verification services. This digital solution allows organizations to securely verify COVID-19 test results and vaccination statuses for individuals accessing their facilities, utilizing encryption and blockchain technology.

Healthy Returns also offers COVID-19 testing and vaccination support. The collaboration aims to facilitate compliance with new regulations requiring COVID-19 testing and vaccination in various organizations, streamlining the status verification process.