IBM's Q3 2024 Results: AI Momentum Amid Mixed Performance

12 Sources

Share

IBM reports mixed Q3 2024 results with strong software growth driven by AI and cloud services, offset by challenges in consulting and infrastructure segments.

News article

IBM's Q3 2024 Financial Performance

International Business Machines (IBM) released its third-quarter 2024 financial results, revealing a mixed performance with total revenue of $14.97 billion, up 1.5% year-over-year but slightly below analyst expectations of $15.1 billion

1

2

. The company reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.30, surpassing the projected $2.23

3

. However, IBM's GAAP results were impacted by an unexpected $2.7 billion pension settlement charge, resulting in a pre-tax loss of $0.3 billion

2

.

Software Segment Leads Growth

The standout performer in IBM's Q3 results was the Software segment, which saw a robust 10% year-over-year revenue increase

1

4

. This growth was primarily driven by strong performances from Red Hat, which grew 14%, and the company's Hybrid Cloud solutions

2

. The success in this segment underscores IBM's strategic focus on AI and cloud-driven technologies.

AI Momentum and Future Outlook

IBM's CEO, Arvind Krishna, highlighted the company's progress in artificial intelligence, stating that their generative AI book of business has now reached more than $3 billion, a significant increase of over $1 billion from the previous quarter

5

. This growth demonstrates IBM's commitment to AI as a key driver of future revenue and its potential to transform business operations for clients.

Challenges in Other Segments

While Software thrived, other segments faced challenges:

  1. Infrastructure: Revenue declined by 7% year-over-year, with IBM Z mainframe revenue falling 19%

    2

    4

    . This reflects the cyclical nature of the hardware division and the anticipation of a new mainframe system in 2025

    1

    .

  2. Consulting: Revenue remained flat at $5.15 billion, affected by external client spending pressures

    2

    . However, AI-related bookings helped offset weakness in more discretionary projects

    1

    .

Financial Outlook and Strategy

Despite the mixed results, IBM maintained its free cash flow guidance of over $12 billion for 2024

1

5

. The company expects Q4 revenue growth to be consistent with Q3, projecting approximately 2% growth in constant currency

5

. IBM's strategy moving forward will continue to focus on AI integration, refinement of consulting offerings, and addressing challenges in the infrastructure segment.

Market Response and Investor Considerations

Following the earnings release, IBM's stock price fell by approximately 7%

3

. This reaction reflects investor concerns about the revenue miss and the company's ability to fully capitalize on the AI boom. However, long-term investors may find reassurance in IBM's consistent free cash flow generation and its growing presence in the AI market

1

.

As IBM navigates the evolving tech landscape, investors should closely monitor its execution in AI and hybrid cloud areas, as well as any turnaround strategies in underperforming segments. These factors will be crucial in determining IBM's long-term growth potential and strategic direction in the competitive tech industry.

TheOutpost.ai

Your Daily Dose of Curated AI News

Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Spend less time searching for the latest in AI and get straight to action.

© 2025 Triveous Technologies Private Limited
Instagram logo
LinkedIn logo