News

Shares of International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) slumped on Thursday after the tech giant reported first-quarter results that fell a bit short of expectations. Revenue of $14.46 billion missed the consensus estimate by $80 million, while adjusted earnings per share of $1.68 was $0.09 below expectations.

For the most part, though, IBM's first quarter went well. Overall revenue was up 3% in constant currency, free cash flow jumped significantly to $1.9 billion, and profit margins expanded. Software revenue rose 6%, driven by Red Hat and artificial intelligence, and the infrastructure segment managed to grow despite being two years into the current mainframe product cycle.

There was one problem

The weak point in IBM's first quarter was the consulting business. While consulting revenue still rose by 2% year over year at constant currency, IBM is seeing more pressure related to discretionary projects. Clients are less willing to spend on smaller, less critical projects in an uncertain economic environment.

The other issue in the consulting business was a lengthening of backlog duration. The consulting business has about $30 billion worth of business in its backlog, and that number grew by 7% year over year in the first quarter. However, it's taking a bit longer to translate that backlog into revenue for large digital transformation projects.

The silver lining is that consulting for AI-related projects is booming. IBM has now booked more than $1 billion worth of business related to generative AI, which includes its Watsonx platform. That total is a mix of consulting and software, but it's weighted toward consulting. While companies are pulling back in some areas, they're ramping up spending on AI.

The story hasn't changed

While IBM's first quarter was slightly weaker than expected, driven by slower growth for the consulting business, the company maintained its full-year outlook. IBM still sees total revenue growing at a mid-single-digit rate at constant currency, and it still expects to generate about $12 billion in free cash flow.

IBM is particularly well-positioned to win AI-related business as the AI hype cycle matures. Companies have been racing to adopt AI technology, but IBM is now seeing its clients thinking more about return on investment. Running advanced AI models can be expensive, so companies need to ensure that this heavy spending produces the desired boosts to efficiency or productivity. IBM's consulting arm coupled with its AI software platform is a potent combination in a world where AI investments need to be justified.

Thursday's post-earnings decline offers investors a nice opportunity to pick up shares of IBM for a reasonable price. With IBM's market capitalization now sitting around $154 billion, the stock trades for less than 13 times the free cash flow outlook.

While IBM's first-quarter report wasn't a home run, there wasn't anything that changed the long-term story.

Should you invest $1,000 in International Business Machines right now?

Before you buy stock in International Business Machines, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and International Business Machines wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Timothy Green has positions in International Business Machines. The Motley Fool recommends International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.