June 19, 2025
Top 10 Stock IBM Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: IBM – Top 10 Stock in Renewable Energy Use Leaders
IBM is listed as a top 10 stock on June 19, 2025 in the market index Renewables Users because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, the professional market sentiment is positive and it may be a solid investment proposition, especially if a growth recovery is to be expected soon. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 51 (high 51% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for IBM on June 19, 2025.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | IT Consulting & oth. Services |
| Index | Dow Jones, Artificial Intelligence, Dividends USA, Diversity USA, Renewables Users, Recycling, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View IBM Buy
| 360 METRICS | June 19, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 71 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 33 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 39 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 55 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 51 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock IBM are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for IBM. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 71, which means that the share price of IBM is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 71% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 55, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 55% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 33, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth, and stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 39, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 61 comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 51, IBM is better positioned than 51% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, but the other half are below market levels. The company enjoys a good value (Value Rank of 71) and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 55), but growth expectations are below-average (Growth Rank of 33) and the financing structure is on the risky side(Safety Rank of 39). This combination is rather dangerous, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. The current low growth level may be temporary, because professionals are actually optimistic (positive sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. Companies with less growth typically have a lower price than fast-growing competitors. Even though professional investor sentiment is strong, we recommend further evaluating whether the future of IBM is as challenging as the stock's low price suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, the stock might just be going through a more challenging phase now, indicating that timing might be good now. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for IBM positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock IBM is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for IBM. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 32 (worse than 68% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 47, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 83, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 83% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 70, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 70% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to IBM and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 55 (more positive than 55% compared with investment alternatives), IBM has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical, while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more
Value Strategy: IBM Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 71 (better than 71% compared with alternatives), IBM shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for IBM. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 99% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 43 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 57% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning IBM's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 45 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 55% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 32 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 68% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 71, is a buy recommendation based on IBM's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick IBM? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose IBM only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more
Growth Strategy: IBM Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 33 (better than 33% compared with alternatives), IBM shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for IBM. Sales Growth has a below market rank of 24, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 76% of its competitors. The same is valid for Capital Growth, with a rank of 33, and Profit Growth, with a rank of 38. Currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 62% of its competitors). Only shareholders are optimistic. Stock Returns are above average at a rank of 91, which means that the stock returns have recently been above 91% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 33, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That picture may be the result for a company that has reached the bottom. All went south for IBM, and it still looks bad, but some investors already see light at the end of the tunnel, rewarding the stock with recent above-market stock returns. It could also mean that investors are correcting an overreaction to negative news. If that were the case, the positive stock returns are not yet a sign of recovery. Investors should look closely at the Value and Sentiment indicators before they make a stock purchasing decision, because growth is unlikely to be the driving argument behind this investment. ...read more
Safety Strategy: IBM Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | June 19, 2025 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 25 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 29 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 65 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 39 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 39 (better than 39% compared with alternatives), the company IBM has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of IBM is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for IBM. Liquidity is at 65, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 65% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 29, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 71% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 25, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 75% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 39 (worse than 61% compared with alternatives), IBM has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: IBM Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | June 19, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 71 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 33 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 65 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 39 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 39 (worse than 61% compared with investment alternatives), IBM (IT Consulting & oth. Services, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of IBM are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 71 (better than 71% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 33), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 39), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 39, is a hold recommendation based on IBM's financial characteristics. As the company IBM's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 71) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 33) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 39), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 71% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more
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