Stockchase Opinions

Jim Cramer - Mad MoneyIBM Common StockIBMBUYJan 31, 2025

It just reported great numbers and shares jumped 13%. Redhat has made this an AI winner. It rallied 34% last year. They've had 6 straight quarters of positive sales growth, leading to an earnings beat and excellent free cash flow. Their full year forecast includes accelerating revenue growth and free cash flow. YOY growth: infrastructure -8%, consulting -2%, software 10% which is the largest segment, amounting to 43% of 2024 revenues. Software got stronger as 2024 wore on, and this segment could make up 50% of IBM's business. Specifically, Red Hat grew 16% YOY in Q4 and automation 15%. Watson X and Red Hat are key growers, enjoying the AI tailwind. Their GenAI business generates over $5 billion of business, growing by $2 billion, quarter-over-quarter. That said, shares went sideways last October given a miss in their consulting business, but the CEO feels AI will return this segment to growth in 2026. Tailwinds: a good backlog, record signing in Q4, and business in GenAI all support accelerating growth in low-single digits. Caveat: their PE is 24x PE and 22x in 2026, instead of around 10x, but their return to steady growth justifies the PE and software will generate more recurring revenue. An indirect AI play that won't be hurt by DeepSeek.

$255.70

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$234.02

As of Sep 10, 2026. Market Open.

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PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Aug 25/25, Up 2%)

Still likes it despite pullback. Recent weakness partially due to customers delaying (but not cancelling) large purchases in favour of buying hardware. AI, mainframe modernization, and quantum still provide potential growth engines.

DON'T BUY

His nemesis. Many see it as a potential beneficiary of the AI boom and quantum computing. For a company with a $200B market cap, he doesn't have the stomach for it's being so volatile. Attempts at making a new high have all failed, made 3 lower lows. 

DON'T BUY

The executives and board own few shares, which is a negative in his book. Warren Buffett once owned this and was disappointed. Google and Meta are better for large tech.

SELL

He trimmed it and will sell the rest. Their earnings were so disappointing. Quantum computing is a long-term goal for them and he could revisit it later. 

WEAK BUY

They transition from hardware to services and software. The stock ran up on the hype leading the earnings, but then that enthusiasm vanished. Any revenue miss impacts earnings and sentiment. IBM is interesting in the long term, but IBM has been considered dead money in the past. You get a decent dividend and management is good.

DON'T BUY

Their last earnings had one of the largest gaps ever in their history which could signal further problems in the company. Wait to see them sort out of their problems. Would not buy this dip.

COMMENT
Fell 25% yesterday with its comment on AI.

We had these stocks that were growing off of AI, and they've been delivering spectacular growth. But they've also had spectacular increases in share prices, which becomes a potential source of volatility. 

The question is whether valuations are too high given projected growth? As we've seen here, some of the price adjustments can be pretty abrupt.

DON'T BUY
Has fallen the furthest in one day since 1968

Previous support was just taken out. It could keep falling. Maybe it will consolidate.

BUY

Is -18% from highs and trades at 18x PE. They create mission-critical software.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Has done better than peer consulting companies. Chart appears to be rolling over. But in his industry, "nobody ever got fired for buying IBM".

STRONG BUY

It's a screaming buy, down 17% this year. Trades at 20x forward PE. Then, there's quantum computing, which has a $1.3 trillion addressable market from now to 2030. The CEO has done a great job. 

TOP PICK

Big into AI, huge into quantum. Checks all the boxes. Last earnings (April 22) were a bit of an execution slipup. He has a full position right now (4.5%). Buy here, add around $270, and again at $255. Yield is 2.43%.

(Analysts’ price target is $298.18)
PARTIAL BUY

There's such a backlog in the data centre build that we're seeing a huge boost in earnings and net income. After its recent run, this will keep going, but at some point the music will stop, though not anytime soon. Would buy only a tranche now then buy more during a dip.

COMMENT

It was doing well, rising above $300, the past year, but is now consolidating around $240. If it continues here, it will go sideways. Falling below $235 is not good, while rising past $350 is encouraging.

TOP PICK

Growing from multiple angles, yet valuation still reasonable. Stable and embedded business complemented by new growth drivers. Consulting business helps companies implement AI, and that's where the real spending is. Strong in hybrid cloud, managing data across environments. Quantum computing already being used with potential for energy, healthcare, manufacturing. 

Drop in February due to sector rotation and profit taking. Trades ~19x PE, attractive. Sees 30% upside from here to ~$317. Yield is 2.85%.

(Analysts’ price target is $320.14)