As one of the leader of commercializing computers from personal use to super computer fit for giant corporate needs, IBM has established a very solid brand that is envied by many. Initiating its business mainly in hardware segments, the company spread its wing further to other ventures such as business solutions, city planning, cloud drive management and anything you could imagine when you start a company which requires information technology services. As an early innovator, IBM gains a lot of experience and come up with a very good company structure with specific task segregations and specializations as what we can see from its websites. This is why IBM is still standing strong despite the rise of various startups and dot com bubbles burst where its expertise is fit for the practical usage in many companies. IBM further put itself in a very advantageous position by opening branches all over to world where it can effectively expand its network and business opportunities. Throughout these few years, IBM future prospects seems eroded. To me, the potential is still there. Imagine even when Google conquer the IT world, practical business solutions are still needed to keep companies' massive administrative tasks running. ( To me, wearing glasses and watches simply cannot replace the conventional method isn't it? ) For IT company like IBM to fend off its workers, much research and developments are needed for innovation purposes. Opposing to traditional do it in your lab method, IBM welcomes more collaboration from other parties in carrying out more innovations where it is more efficient and cost saving.
When diversification is overly adapted, a company will lose its focuses and this will eventually invite unwanted disasters. Cost are reported rising in an explosive manners in various reports. IBM also sold their server business as less profitability is generated. These are all resulted from the company inability to manage such a diversity of products and services even with a large scale work force. As a matter of fact, IBM has been focusing much more on restructuring their cost and converging their business with several disposals along the way.
Based on the 10 years cash flow, the company has generated a very steady growth of operating cash flow level with an annual growth rate of 15.27% which is astounding! Not to mention both ratios performing at a satisfactory level. Unfortunately, the ratio has dropped for almost 4% for ROA where it record a decline in net profit. IBM's debt has been following a consistent pattern where they pay almost 80% of their debt at the respective year. This indicates a healthy financing practice. At the same time, the company is also maintaining its cash at level about $10 billion. As above strong suggestion for the business's future prospect, the company intrinsic value is amounted at $196.13 (note that I used the high beta and after a 20% margin of safety) compared to the current price of $192.27. At time of writing, I am owning the shares of IBM.
Exchange: NYSE Stock: IBM
