IBM shares slide after company trims cash forecast

Technology

In this article

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna appears at a panel session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022.
Hollie Adams | Bloomberg | Getty Images

IBM shares slid as much as 4% in extended trading on Monday after the company trimmed its 2022 cash forecast. It still beat on the top and bottom lines.

Here’s how the company did:

  • Earnings: $2.31 per share, adjusted, vs. $2.27 per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.
  • Revenue: $15.54 billion, vs. $15.18 billion as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.

IBM’s revenue rose 9% year over year in the quarter, according to a statement. Income from continuing operations increased to $1.47 billion from $810 million in the year-ago quarter. IBM spun off its managed infrastructure services business into publicly traded Kyndryl in November, and sales to Kyndryl boosted IBM’s revenue.

Management called for $10 billion in free cash flow for all of 2022, down from the range of $10 billion to $10.5 billion that it provided in April. Executives reiterated their plan for constant-currency revenue growth at the high end of their mid-single-digit model for the year.

Currency negatively impacted reported revenue by over 6% of growth, or $900 million, which was $200 more than spot rates had indicated three months ago, Jim Kavanaugh, IBM’s finance chief, said on a conference call with analysts.

IBM reported $6.17 billion in software revenue in the second quarter, up 6% but below the $6.3 billion consensus among analysts polled by StreetAccount.

The company’s consulting division generated $4.81 billion in revenue, jumping nearly 10% and surpassing the StreetAccount consensus of $4.67 billion.

IBM’s infrastructure unit, which includes mainframe computers, contributed $4.24 billion in revenue, up almost 19% and well above the $3.79 billion StreetAccount consensus. On May 31, IBM started selling its latest mainframe, the z16. Each mainframe cycle generally brings revenue growth at the beginning as customers upgrade, followed by a decline. Sales of z Systems products rose 69%, compared with a decline of 19% in the first quarter.

Also in the quarter, IBM announced a plan to acquire cybersecurity startup Randori, and Francisco Partners closed its acquisition IBM’s Watson health care data and analytics assets in a deal reportedly worth more than $1 billion.

IBM’s gross margin narrowed to 53.4% from 55.2% in the year-ago quarter. The company said the competitive labor market impacted results in its consulting arm, continuing a trend it saw earlier in the year.

Prior to the after-hours move, IBM shares were up 3% so far this year, while the S&P 500 index tumbled about 20%.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

WATCH: We’re not seeing a slowdown in the B2B space, says IBM CEO

Articles You May Like

Constellation Energy to restart Three Mile Island nuclear plant, sell the power to Microsoft for AI
U.S. crude oil prices fall ahead of pivotal Fed decision on interest rates
Guardian Media Group in talks to sell The Observer to Tortoise Media
Sir Alan Bates blames ‘flimflam artists’ for delaying Horizon scandal compensation payouts
Here’s the inflation breakdown for August 2024 — in one chart