Value
4.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| P/E | 4.9 |
| P/S | 7.6 |
| EV/EBITDA | 0.1 |
| Fwd P/E | 6.0 |
| PEG | 3.9 |
| Analyst target | 4.0 |
- ▸Forward P/E: 21.5x
- ▸PEG: 2.67
IBM · Why this verdict
Why International Business Machines (IBM) is rated SELL
Updated
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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VerdictSELL
Overall score5.5/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
Thesis pillars
| Pillar | Expectation | Trend |
|---|---|---|
Two high-severity concentration risks — approximately 60% of revenue sourced from markets outside the United States, and dependence on server processor technology suppliers — represent structural vulnerabilities that could impair earnings if either risk materializes. Risk breakdown | Revenue from non-US markets decreases below 55% of total, or supplier diversification is disclosed, over the next 12 months. | →Stable |
| CounterGeographic diversification can be a strength during periods of domestic weakness, and long-standing supplier relationships may reduce rather than increase procurement risk in practice. | ||
The company generates a return on equity of 36%, net margins near 16%, and converts 122% of reported net income into free cash flow — credentials that rank best-in-class versus peers and indicate the business earns more in cash than accounting income alone would suggest. Quality breakdown | Free cash flow conversion stays above 100% of net income and operating margin remains above 14% over the next four quarters. | →Stable |
| CounterTwo high-severity concentration risks — revenue heavily weighted toward markets outside the United States at approximately 60%, and dependence on a concentrated group of server processor technology suppliers — could impair margins or earnings if either risk crystallizes. | ||
With approximately 21% headroom to the price target and a risk/reward ratio that is favorable at roughly 3-to-1, the setup offers a material potential return against a defined downside. Price targets | The stock closes within 10% of the $325.81 price target within 12 months as fundamentals support the valuation gap. | →Stable |
| CounterNegative price momentum — the stock is currently below its 200-day moving average — could extend before reversing, eroding the potential return window if the gap to the target takes longer than expected to close. | ||
The stock is trading below its 200-day moving average with declining volume, and the momentum dimension has failed its entry gate — though the long-term moving average itself is still trending higher at approximately 0.4% per month, suggesting this may be a pullback within an intact trend rather than a confirmed breakdown. Momentum breakdown | Momentum recovers as the stock reclaims the 200-day moving average and on-balance volume turns positive over the next 8 to 12 weeks. | →Stable |
| CounterA rich valuation multiple can persist absent a near-term catalyst; if the next earnings report disappoints, the momentum deterioration could deepen before the upside gap closes. | ||
Two high-severity concentration risks — approximately 60% of revenue sourced from markets outside the United States, and dependence on server processor technology suppliers — represent structural vulnerabilities that could impair earnings if either risk materializes.
→StableRisk breakdown
- Expectation
- Revenue from non-US markets decreases below 55% of total, or supplier diversification is disclosed, over the next 12 months.
CounterGeographic diversification can be a strength during periods of domestic weakness, and long-standing supplier relationships may reduce rather than increase procurement risk in practice.
The company generates a return on equity of 36%, net margins near 16%, and converts 122% of reported net income into free cash flow — credentials that rank best-in-class versus peers and indicate the business earns more in cash than accounting income alone would suggest.
→StableQuality breakdown
- Expectation
- Free cash flow conversion stays above 100% of net income and operating margin remains above 14% over the next four quarters.
CounterTwo high-severity concentration risks — revenue heavily weighted toward markets outside the United States at approximately 60%, and dependence on a concentrated group of server processor technology suppliers — could impair margins or earnings if either risk crystallizes.
With approximately 21% headroom to the price target and a risk/reward ratio that is favorable at roughly 3-to-1, the setup offers a material potential return against a defined downside.
→StablePrice targets
- Expectation
- The stock closes within 10% of the $325.81 price target within 12 months as fundamentals support the valuation gap.
CounterNegative price momentum — the stock is currently below its 200-day moving average — could extend before reversing, eroding the potential return window if the gap to the target takes longer than expected to close.
The stock is trading below its 200-day moving average with declining volume, and the momentum dimension has failed its entry gate — though the long-term moving average itself is still trending higher at approximately 0.4% per month, suggesting this may be a pullback within an intact trend rather than a confirmed breakdown.
→StableMomentum breakdown
- Expectation
- Momentum recovers as the stock reclaims the 200-day moving average and on-balance volume turns positive over the next 8 to 12 weeks.
CounterA rich valuation multiple can persist absent a near-term catalyst; if the next earnings report disappoints, the momentum deterioration could deepen before the upside gap closes.
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis
Engine thesis — one sentence
The company combines peer-leading margins and excellent free cash flow conversion with approximately 21% upside to the price target at a favorable risk/reward ratio, but negative price momentum — the stock is below its long-term moving average — keeps the setup in a wait-and-watch posture until technical trend stabilizes.
Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.
Per-dimension breakdown
Quality
6.8/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| ROE | 10.0 |
| ROA | 3.6 |
| Gross margin | 7.7 |
| Op margin | 5.5 |
| Net margin | 7.8 |
| Current ratio | 3.2 |
| FCF quality | 9.1 |
| Moat | 6.9 |
| Piotroski F | 7.8 |
- ▸Excellent ROE: 36%
- ▸Strong margins: 16%
- ▸Excellent cash conversion: 122% FCF/NI
- ▸Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9
Growth
4.8/10data confidence 67%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Rev growth | 4.9 |
| EPS growth | 4.8 |
Momentum
7.2/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| RSI | 5.5 |
| MACD | 10.0 |
| OBV | 10.0 |
| MA position | 9.0 |
| Volume | 1.3 |
- ▸Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
- ▸Above 200-day MA
Sentiment
6.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| LLM sentiment | 5.0 |
| Analyst rating | 7.5 |
| Price target | 5.2 |
Insider
5.0/10data confidence 50%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| materiality | 5.0 |
| holder change | 5.1 |
- ▸No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
Peer rank
4.3/10data confidence 80%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| value rank | 2.5 |
| quality rank | 8.3 |
| growth rank | 6.4 |
- ▸Superior ROE vs peers
- ▸Best-in-class margins
Technical
4.6/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| bollinger | 1.8 |
| support resistance | 3.1 |
| 52w position | 7.4 |
| gap | 6.0 |
Risk (lower is worse)
5.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| short interest | 8.2 |
| days to cover | 8.4 |
| volatility | 2.6 |
| put call | 4.8 |
| implied vol | 2.8 |
| beta | 8.9 |
| debt equity | 2.9 |
| news risk | 5.0 |
- ▸High IV: 63%
- ▸Concentration risks: 2 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)
Catalyst
6.6/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| erm | 6.0 |
| earnings history | 10.0 |
| earnings timing | 5.0 |
| surprise avg | 5.6 |
| dividend safety | 4.8 |
| news activity | 8.0 |
- ▸Perfect beat streak: 4Q
- ▸Yield trap warning: high yield but unsafe
How the verdict was assembled
Engine trigger
Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.
Engine technical detail
verdict_path:
L4:PATH_F_SELLPassed (7)
- MOMENTUM:7.2>=5.5
- INSIDER:OK
- 8K:CLEAN
- NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
- EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:19d clear
- SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
- MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
- ASYMMETRY:-0.6=NEGATIVE
Warning (0)
none
Reward-to-Risk
-0.58
Upside
-8.6%
Downside
15.0%
Sizing output
AVOID
SetupMomentum Cont — Trend continuation, RSI 59, MACD bullish
EdgeCatalyst-Driven — Earnings in 19d with 4/4 beat streak
SuitabilityModerate — Balanced profile
Investment implication
The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 4.0 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Momentum at 7.2) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( ASYMMETRY:-0.6=NEGATIVE) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is -0.58 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.
The strongest dimensions are Momentum at 7.2, Quality at 6.8, and Catalyst at 6.6; the weakest are Peer rank at 4.3, Value at 4.5, and Technical at 4.6. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.58 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.
What would invalidate the thesis
Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.
- P1Peer Leading Quality Fcf Conversion
Trip ifFCF/NI ratio falls below 80% for 2 consecutive quarters, indicating a material deterioration in cash conversion quality.
- P2Material Upside Favorable Risk Reward
Trip ifAnalyst consensus price target falls below the current price of $268.71, indicating the upside basis has been eliminated.
- P3Negative Momentum Below Long Term Average
Trip ifStock closes above the 200-day moving average for 10 consecutive trading days, indicating trend recovery and invalidating the momentum concern.
- P4Dual Concentration Risk
Trip ifRevenue from non-US markets falls below 50% of total for 2 consecutive annual reporting periods.