IBM: A Thought Provoker for the Future or a Look Back at Glorious Days?

The history of IBM is characterized by a simple but powerful motto: "THINK." This slogan shaped the corporate culture of IBM from its early days when Thomas Watson Sr. first introduced it at Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. Under his leadership, the company evolved into what we now know as International Business Machines, or simply IBM. With "THINK" as its guiding principle, IBM became the dominant provider of punch card tabulating systems and gained significant market power with its mainframe computers in the 1960s and 1970s. However, times change, and Big Blue has faced pressure repeatedly in the following decades. A major turning point was the appointment of Arvind Krishna as CEO in the 2020s, who played a key role in the company's strategic direction, particularly through the acquisition of software manufacturer Red Hat. Under Krishna's leadership, IBM seems to be reaching new heights: thanks to a strong quarterly balance sheet and positive developments in software and infrastructure, the company is making headlines for its success today. At the same time, IBM is gaining attention from investment firms that are adjusting their stock price targets. Morgan Stanley, Stifel, and RBC Capital recently expressed optimistic forecasts regarding IBM's market position, with particular emphasis on potential in the software sector and the role of Red Hat. IBM's ability to adapt and foster innovation remains key to the future. The upcoming quarterly numbers will once again be an important indicator of the company's resilience and progress in a rapidly changing technology market.