IBM benefited from its software business in the past quarter, surpassing analysts' expectations in terms of revenue and profit. Consequently, IBM's stock rose by 4.36 percent to $192.04 in trading on the NYSE on Thursday.

The main contribution to the positive results was the increase in software revenues, which rose by seven percent year-over-year to $6.74 billion, as the company announced on Wednesday after the US market closed. In contrast, IBM experienced a decline of nearly one percent in its consulting business. Overall, IBM's quarterly revenue increased by around two percent to $15.8 billion (€14.6 billion). Profit grew from nearly $1.6 billion to just over $1.83 billion.

The strong numbers in the software segment reflect the successful implementation of IBM's strategy to focus more on more profitable business areas. Of particular note are the achievements in the areas of hybrid cloud and AI, which continue to be a key growth driver for the company.

The growth in the software business highlights the increasing importance of this area for IBM, particularly in the context of the digital transformation of many companies. The corporation emphasized that the growth was driven by high demand for its cloud solutions and AI services. This development underscores the strategic relevance of IBM's investments in future technologies.

Despite the overall positive development, the consulting business remains a challenge. The slight decline in this area suggests that IBM needs to continue optimizing and adjusting its consulting portfolio to stay competitive in a tough market.