Ascent Group LLC Raises Holdings in International Business Machines Corporation $IBM

Ascent Group LLC lifted its holdings in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) by 28.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 19,670 shares of the technology company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,297 shares during the quarter. Ascent Group LLC’s holdings in International Business Machines were worth $5,550,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IBM. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,144 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $632,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Whelan Financial lifted its position in International Business Machines by 2.4% during the second quarter. Whelan Financial now owns 1,525 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $450,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLC boosted its holdings in International Business Machines by 0.9% in the second quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 3,964 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $1,133,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Foster Group Inc. grew its position in International Business Machines by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 2,474 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Finally, Johnson Bixby & Associates LLC raised its stake in International Business Machines by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Johnson Bixby & Associates LLC now owns 1,208 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $356,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. 58.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Stores Impacting International Business Machines

Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and media highlight IBM’s AI progress and positioning as a 2025 AI leader, which supports expectations for revenue growth and multiple expansion. IBM Became an AI Powerhouse in 2025
• Positive Sentiment: High‑profile endorsements (Jim Cramer calling IBM “still cheap” / undervalued) can lift investor sentiment and attract bargain hunters. IBM Is Still Undervalued, According to Jim Cramer Jim Cramer on International Business Machines: “It’s Still Cheap”
• Positive Sentiment: Progress and strategy in quantum computing and enterprise partnerships (e.g., AI learning tools, diversified quantum roadmap) bolster IBM’s long‑term growth narrative vs. pure‑play rivals. 2026 Big Tech Quantum Bets: IBM and Amazon’s Edge Over Pure-Plays?
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary notes IBM fell more than the broader market on the latest trading session — useful for context but not necessarily driven by company fundamentals. IBM (IBM) Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market: What Investors Need to Know
• Negative Sentiment: The death of former CEO and turnaround architect Lou Gerstner has generated widespread coverage; while largely symbolic, it can create short‑term emotion‑driven selling or media focus away from corporate catalysts. Louis V. Gerstner, Who Revived a Faltering IBM in the ’90s, Dies at 83

International Business Machines Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:IBM opened at $302.06 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $304.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $281.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The company has a market capitalization of $282.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.69. International Business Machines Corporation has a 1-year low of $214.50 and a 1-year high of $324.90.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The technology company reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.45 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $16.33 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.10 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 12.09% and a return on equity of 37.76%. The company’s revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.30 EPS. Research analysts expect that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a $1.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. International Business Machines’s dividend payout ratio is 80.38%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on International Business Machines from $280.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Wall Street Zen downgraded International Business Machines from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 20th. UBS Group reiterated a “sell” rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $310.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $295.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, International Business Machines presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $293.38.

International Business Machines Profile

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM.

IBM’s principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development.