[PR Newswire] – For this report, Gartner evaluated IBM Spectrum Protect, a data protection and recovery software, which is part of the company’s software defined storage portfolio. IBM Spectrum Protect optimizes backups for physical, virtual and cloud environments from a single management console and are increasingly finding favor among clients with hybrid cloud environment. It addresses data protection objectives for organizations of all sizes and can open up opportunities for application designers, data owners and service providers in every industry to develop Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) applications without mastering data management, recovery or protection.
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), valued at $163.00B, started the session at $166.23. Today’s price range has been between $165.46 and $166.81 per share with a trailing 52-week range being $149.52 to $196.40. IBM shares are currently priced at 10.52x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively inexpensive compared to the industry’s 26.38x forward p/e ratio. The company pays shareholders $5.20 per share annually in dividends, yielding 3.10%. According to a consensus of 18 analysts, the earnings estimate of $3.79 per share would be $0.64 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.22 sequential decrease. In looking at the bigger picture, the full-year EPS estimate of $15.87 would be a $0.66 worse when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $20.92 Billion. If reported, that would be a 14.12% decrease over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, DeutscheBank Initiated IBM at Hold (Apr 10, 2014). Previously, UBS downgraded IBM from Buy to Neutral. Â When considering if perhaps the stock is under or overvalued, the average price target is $160.74, which is 3.30% below where the stock opened this morning. Â : Â International Business Machines Corporation provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. The companyÂ’s Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, such as outsourcing, processing, integrated technology, cloud, and technology support. Its Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration services for strategy and transformation, application innovation services, enterprise applications, and smarter analytics; and application management, maintenance, and support services. The companyÂ’s Software segment provides middleware and operating systems software, including WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; andinformation management software that enables clients to integrate, manage, and analyze data from various sources. It also offers Watson Solutions software to interact in natural language, process big data, and learn from interactions with people and computers; Tivoli software offers integrated service delivery for cloud and datacenter management, enterprise endpoint and mobile device management, asset and facilities management, and storage management; and Workforce Solutions software that enables businesses to connect people and processes. In addition, this segment provides Rational software that supports software development; and Mobile software for application development, mobile security, and mobile device management. Its Systems and Technology segment offers infrastructure technologies; and semiconductor technology, products, and packaging solutions. The companyÂ’s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers; andremanufacturing and remarketing services. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. The company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Armonk, New York.