IBM set for a 2021 rebound

Article Excerpt

IBM, $119.12, is still a buy. The company (New York symbol IBM; Shares o/s: 891.1 million; Market cap: $106.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 5.5%) reported 6.5% lower revenue in the three months ended December 31, 2020; it fell 6.5%, to $20.37 billion from $21.78 billion a year earlier. That missed the consensus forecast of $20.6 billion. Weaker demand for the company’s legacy operations, partly due to COVID-19 disruptions, offset strong growth from its cloud operations. Lower profits from those legacy businesses also caused IBM’s total earnings (before one-time items) to decline 56.1%, to $2.07 a share from $4.71. However, that easily beat the consensus estimate of $1.79. Meanwhile, IBM expects its revenue will recover in 2021 as the economy opens up. It also sees its free cash flow (regular cash flow less maintenance capital expenditures) rising to between $11 billion and $12 billion, from $10.8 billion in 2020. IBM remains a buy. buy…