{"id":525950,"date":"2026-07-14T17:30:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T17:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/525950\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T17:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T17:30:08","slug":"slower-q2-results-and-ai-pivot-might-change-the-case-for-investing-in-ibm-ibm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/525950\/","title":{"rendered":"Slower Q2 Results And AI Pivot Might Change The Case For Investing In IBM (IBM)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">In the past week, IBM released weaker-than-expected preliminary second-quarter 2026 results, citing slower software and infrastructure performance as clients redirected budgets toward servers, storage, and memory to secure AI capacity amid supply constraints and cybersecurity worries.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Beyond the earnings shortfall, IBM&#8217;s response, launching offerings like the AI-powered Lightwell security platform and expanding its Bob agentic development suite, highlights how the company is trying to reposition around AI infrastructure, software modernization, and open-source security even as traditional mainframe demand softens.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">We&#8217;ll now examine how this late-quarter shift in client spending toward AI and memory hardware reshapes IBM&#8217;s previously balanced investment narrative.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">This technology could replace computers: discover <a href=\"https:\/\/simplywall.st\/discover\/investing-ideas\/282\/quantum-computing-stocks\/global?utm_medium=finance_user&amp;utm_campaign=intro&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;blueprint=4659922\" data-ylk=\"slk:26%20stocks%20that%20are%20working%20to%20make%20quantum%20computing%20a%20reality;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;26 stocks that are working to make quantum computing a reality&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">26 stocks that are working to make quantum computing a reality<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p>        International Business Machines Investment Narrative Recap          <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">To own IBM today, you need to believe it can convert its long-standing enterprise footprint into durable growth in hybrid cloud, AI infrastructure, and security, even as legacy mainframe cycles become less predictable. The abrupt Q2 2026 shortfall and share-price drop put near term focus squarely on execution in Software and Infrastructure, making deal closure and budget timing the key catalyst and the risk that client spending keeps tilting away from IBM&#8217;s higher margin offerings more acute.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Among IBM&#8217;s recent announcements, the commercial launch of Lightwell stands out as most relevant. The earnings warning cited cybersecurity concerns and open source exposure as reasons some large deals slipped, and Lightwell is aimed at automated vulnerability remediation across complex software stacks. For investors watching whether IBM can reposition around AI era security and compliance, Lightwell&#8217;s early adoption and ecosystem traction could be important signals for how quickly the company can restore confidence in its Software story.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Yet beneath the AI and security opportunity, investors should be aware that the real pressure point may be how fast IBM can offset weakening mainframe demand and&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/simplywall.st\/community\/narratives\/us\/software\/nyse-ibm\/international-business-machines\/e40ycn4w-ibm-quantum-leadership-and-software-execution-will-shape-performance-amid-key-challenges?utm_medium=finance_user&amp;utm_campaign=integrated-pitch&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;blueprint=4659922\" data-ylk=\"slk:Read%20the%20full%20narrative%20on%20International%20Business%20Machines%20(it&#039;s%20free!);elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Read the full narrative on International Business Machines (it&#039;s free!)&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Read the full narrative on International Business Machines (it&#8217;s free!)<\/a>  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">International Business Machines&#8217; narrative projects $79.6 billion revenue and $12.7 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 4.9% yearly revenue growth and about a $2.0 billion earnings increase from $10.7 billion today.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/simplywall.st\/community\/narratives\/us\/software\/nyse-ibm\/international-business-machines\/e40ycn4w-ibm-quantum-leadership-and-software-execution-will-shape-performance-amid-key-challenges?utm_medium=finance_user&amp;utm_campaign=integrated-pitch&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;blueprint=4659922\" data-ylk=\"slk:Uncover%20how%20International%20Business%20Machines&#039;%20forecasts%20yield%20a%20%24293.89%20fair%20value;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Uncover how International Business Machines&#039; forecasts yield a $293.89 fair value&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Uncover how International Business Machines&#8217; forecasts yield a $293.89 fair value<\/a>, in line with its current price.  <\/p>\n<p>         Exploring Other Perspectives     <a href=\"https:\/\/simplywall.st\/company\/id\/d68d2d84-bfff-4ecf-9077-6ec30621d4dc?utm_medium=finance_user&amp;utm_campaign=infographic&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;blueprint=4659922\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"IBM 1-Year Stock Price Chart\" height=\"664\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-lglytj loader\"\/><\/a> IBM 1-Year Stock Price Chart          <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Before this setback, the most optimistic analysts were assuming IBM could lift annual revenue to about US$84.4 billion and earnings to roughly US$14.6 billion by 2029, but this quarter&#8217;s hardware driven miss and the risk that legacy declines outpace AI gains show how far that view sits from more cautious takes, and it is a reminder that your own stance should weigh several very different possible paths from here.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/simplywall.st\/community\/narratives\/us\/software\/nyse-ibm\/international-business-machines?utm_medium=finance_user&amp;utm_campaign=integrated-pitch&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;blueprint=4659922\" data-ylk=\"slk:Explore%2013%20other%20fair%20value%20estimates%20on%20International%20Business%20Machines;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Explore 13 other fair value estimates on International Business Machines&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Explore 13 other fair value estimates on International Business Machines<\/a> &#8211; why the stock might be worth 33% less than the current price!  <\/p>\n<p>       Form Your Own Verdict         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts.  <\/p>\n<p>          No Opportunity In International Business Machines?         <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Opportunities like this don&#8217;t last. These are today&#8217;s most promising picks. Check them out now:  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Companies discussed in this article include <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/quote\/IBM\" data-ylk=\"slk:IBM;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;IBM&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IBM<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"text text-block paragraph text-left neo-font-paragraph-xl-reg  yf-18d6y07\" style=\"text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; text-transform: none; text-align: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal;\">Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? <a href=\"https:\/\/investor-research.typeform.com\/to\/wvg6MFri#feedback_token=NDY1OTkyMjo3NzFkZWE1ODdkYmU0NTM2&amp;company=NYSE:IBM&amp;blueprintid=4659922\" data-ylk=\"slk:Get%20in%20touch;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Get in touch&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Get in touch<\/a> with us directly. Alternatively, email <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/markets\/stocks\/articles\/mailto:editorial-team@simplywallst.com?subject=Re%3A%20Your%20article%20on%20NYSE%3AIBM%20(yahoo)%20from%2014th%20July%202026\" data-ylk=\"slk:editorial-team%40simplywallst.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;source:content-canvas%20default\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;editorial-team@simplywallst.com&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yTrafficOrigin&quot;:&quot;content-canvas default&quot;}\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">editorial-team@simplywallst.com<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the past week, IBM released weaker-than-expected preliminary second-quarter 2026 results, citing slower software and infrastructure performance as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":525951,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[365,363,364,104945,260201,111,139,69,145],"class_list":["post-525950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-artificial-intelligence","tag-ai","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-artificialintelligence","tag-international-business","tag-lightwell","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/525951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=525950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=525950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}