Quick Read IBM Was Tech Leader In The 1980s It Was Left Behind in Smartphones And AI Microsoft and Apple Now Lead The Industry A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. IBM (NYSE: IBM) ranked No. 1 by market capitalization in the US in 1985, according to a study by Axios. By 1995 and 2005, under legendary CEO Jack Welch (who retired in 2001), GE was the world's largest conglomerate and ranked ...

Core Insights - The Zacks Equity Research team has highlighted several stocks, including AbbVie Inc., RTX Corp., International Business Machines Corp., EVI Industries, Inc., and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. in their Analyst Blog [1][2] AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) - AbbVie shares have increased by 13.8% over the past six months, while the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry has gained 29.5% [4] - The company exceeded fourth-quarter estimates for both earnings and sales, successfully managing the loss of exclusivity for Humira by launching new immunology drugs, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are performing well [4][5] - AbbVie's neuroscience portfolio is also contributing to revenue growth, with robust net sales growth reported in 2025, marking the second full year post-Humira's loss of exclusivity [5] RTX Corp. (RTX) - RTX shares have outperformed the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, gaining 29.2% compared to 11.7% over the past six months [6] - The company reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenues that surpassed estimates, benefiting from strong orders for defense products from the Pentagon and foreign allies [6][7] - RTX's backlog reached $268 billion as of December 31, 2025, supported by improving global commercial air traffic [8] International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) - IBM shares have risen by 10.8% over the past six months, while the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry has gained 61.4% [9] - The company reported strong fourth-quarter results, with adjusted earnings and revenues exceeding estimates, driven by growth in hybrid cloud, AI-powered automation, and enterprise consulting [9][10] - IBM is focusing on its Watsonx platform for AI capabilities and quantum technology, although it faces challenges from traditional business weaknesses and high debt levels [11] EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI) - EVI shares have outperformed the Zacks Industrial Services industry, increasing by 24.4% over the past year [12] - The company reported a 24% revenue increase in the December quarter and a 20% rise for the first six months of FY26, with gross margin expanding to approximately 31% [12][13] - Despite solid revenue growth, net income has dipped due to rising SG&A expenses, and the company faces increased working capital demands [14] Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (RMCF) - Rocky Mountain shares have outperformed the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, gaining 51.1% over the past year [15] - The company is focusing on margin improvement, with manufacturing gross margin rising to 21.4% from 10%, and EBITDA turning positive [15][16] - However, Rocky Mountain faces liquidity risks and high-cost debt, which could impact its operational stability [17]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has obtained a patent for a technology called "Data Shape Confidence" [1] - The patent was granted with the announcement number CN114334075B and the application date was September 2021 [1]

Core Insights - IBM and Intel are focusing on emerging technologies like cloud computing and AI to attract investors [1][2] - IBM is enhancing its capabilities in hybrid cloud and AI, while Intel is shifting towards data-centric businesses [2][4] IBM Overview - IBM is expected to benefit from strong demand for hybrid cloud and AI, particularly in its Software and Consulting segments [4] - The company's watsonx platform is central to its AI capabilities, enhancing enterprise productivity [4] - IBM's acquisition of HashiCorp has improved its ability to manage complex cloud environments, supporting its hybrid multi-cloud strategy [5] - Despite growth in hybrid cloud and AI, IBM faces competition from AWS and Azure, with pricing pressures impacting margins [6] Intel Overview - Intel is expanding manufacturing capacity under its IDM 2.0 strategy, launching new processors like the Intel Core Ultra series and Xeon 6+ [7] - The company has secured a $5 billion investment from NVIDIA to develop advanced AI solutions, benefiting the semiconductor ecosystem [8][9] - Intel's revenue is significantly impacted by its exposure to China, facing challenges from market restrictions and competition from domestic chipmakers [10] Financial Performance and Estimates - IBM's 2026 sales are projected to increase by 5.5%, with EPS growth of 6.7%, and shares trade at a lower forward P/S ratio than Intel [11][14] - Intel's 2026 sales are expected to grow by 1.8%, with EPS rising by 16.7%, but EPS estimates have declined by 15.5% over the past 60 days [12][13] Valuation and Investment Outlook - Over the past year, IBM's stock has gained 0.4%, while Intel's has increased by 98.2% [16] - IBM is viewed as more attractive from a valuation perspective, trading at a forward P/S ratio of 3.44 compared to Intel's 4.31 [14] - IBM is rated Hold, while Intel carries a Sell rating, with IBM seen as better positioned for sustainable growth [15][17]

Designer Kate Barton teams up with IBM and Fiducia AI for a NYFW presentation https://t.co/66PrsXkhYV ...

Core Viewpoint - IBM plans to triple the hiring of entry-level positions by 2026, amidst concerns in the tech industry about AI displacing basic jobs [1] Group 1 - The company’s executives state that as AI replaces basic tasks, entry-level employees will engage more in cross-department collaboration and product innovation [1] - This strategy is expected to contribute to long-term talent pipeline development within the company [1]

Core Viewpoint - IBM plans to triple the hiring of entry-level positions by 2026, amidst concerns in the tech industry about AI displacing junior roles [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - IBM's executives state that as AI replaces basic tasks, entry-level employees will engage more in cross-department collaboration and product innovation [1] - The long-term vision includes strengthening the talent pipeline within the company [1]

Group 1 - IBM plans to triple entry-level hiring in the United States by 2026, despite the impact of artificial intelligence on traditional roles for new graduates [1][2] - The hiring expansion will affect various departments, although specific hiring figures were not disclosed [2] - The company has redefined entry-level job descriptions for roles such as software developers to align with the recruitment initiative [3] Group 2 - Junior software developers at IBM are now focusing less on routine coding tasks, which can be handled by AI, and more on direct customer interactions [4] - Entry-level staff in human resources are increasingly responsible for managing situations where HR chatbots fail, indicating a shift in job responsibilities [8] - Concerns exist regarding the potential reduction of entry-level jobs due to AI, with some executives warning that many such positions could vanish by 2030 [8] Group 3 - IBM's HR chief noted that reducing early-career recruitment could lead to a future shortage of mid-level managers, increasing reliance on external hiring [9] - Dropbox is also expanding its internship and new graduate programs by 25%, highlighting a trend where companies are redesigning entry-level roles to incorporate AI oversight and customer engagement [10] - There is an ongoing debate about corporate layoffs attributed to AI, with some analysts cautioning against "AI washing," where companies use AI as a rationale for workforce reductions [11][12]

Group 1 - IBM plans to triple its entry-level job recruitment in the U.S. by 2026, despite concerns that AI is reducing demand for such positions across the tech industry [1][3][5] - Microsoft signals a contrasting view, suggesting that many tasks performed by white-collar professionals will be fully automated by AI within the next 12 to 18 months, raising alarms about the labor market [1][2][4] - The software sector has seen a significant decline, with the S&P 500 Software and Services Index dropping approximately 13% since late January, erasing nearly $1 trillion in market value [2] Group 2 - IBM's Chief Human Resources Officer emphasizes the need to redefine entry-level job responsibilities to align with AI capabilities, focusing on customer interaction and collaboration rather than routine coding tasks [3][5] - Concerns are growing about the potential disappearance of entry-level office jobs, with predictions that up to 50% could vanish by 2030 due to AI advancements [4][5] - Companies like Dropbox are expanding their internship and entry-level programs to leverage the AI skills of younger employees, indicating a shift in hiring strategies [4][5] Group 3 - IBM's strategy involves transforming entry-level engineers into valuable assets in the AI era by reshaping job roles and focusing on higher-value tasks [5][6] - The integration of AI into workflows requires a new type of entry-level talent that can manage and optimize AI processes rather than just performing manual tasks [6][7] - IBM is concentrating on scalable enterprise-level AI projects, emphasizing the importance of integrating AI into existing systems and preparing a talent pipeline for future delivery and management needs [7]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has obtained a patent for a device called "MONISE device synaptic element bias scheme" [1] - The patent was granted with the announcement number CN116710937B and the application date was November 2021 [1]