IBM’s Transformation Pays Off

Article Excerpt

In the early 1990s, IBM began to lose its decades-long dominance over the computer industry to newer companies like Microsoft (software) and Intel (chips). That prompted the company to focus on selling its expertise. It subsequently sold most of its less profitable operations, including its home computer division. This transformation continues to pay off. Demand for computer services tends to be more stable than other aspects of the computer industry, even in today’s volatile economy. That’s because IBM’s services help businesses cut costs and improve productivity. The stock now trades for less than 10 times earnings. That’s less than half its p/e of around 25 during the last recession in 2001. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. $86 (New York symbol IBM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $111.8 billion; WSSF Rating; Above average) is the world’s largest computer company, with operations in over 170 countries. It specializes in large mainframe computers for governments and corporations. The company now…