IBM's Report to Reinforce Tech's Upswing
ARMONK, N.Y. (TheStreet) -- IBM (IBM) - Get Report should provide further evidence of the tech sector's rebound when the bellwether reports its fourth-quarter results after market close on Tuesday.
Last week, chip giant
Intel
(INTC) - Get Report
blew past
analysts' estimates with its own
results, and IBM is expected to continue the trend.
"We expect December quarter results to provide ample evidence that demand is strengthening and should continue to build throughout 2010," wrote David Bailey, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, in a recent note. Citing top-line upside from more normal seasonality and pent up demand, Bailey also expects IBM's earnings to benefit
.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect IBM to post fourth-quarter revenue of $26.96 billion and earn $3.47 a share, compared to $27 billion and $3.28 a share in the
same period last year.
For fiscal 2009, Wall Street expects IBM to report revenue of $26.96 billion and earnings of $9.88 a share.
IBM, which competes with the likes of
Hewlett-Packard
(HPQ) - Get Report
and
Microsoft
(MSFT) - Get Report
, was one of tech's
during the recession, thanks in no small part to CEO
.
The IBM chief has shifted the company's focus into high-margin areas such as
in recent years, a
that
.
Despite
the upstate New York company recently posted strong
and gave bullish guidance. Big Blue raised its 2009 earnings estimate from $9.70 a share to $9.85, and Palmisano said that the firm is well ahead of its 2010 roadmap of $10 to $11 a share.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect IBM to post 2010 earnings of $10.88 a share and sales of $98.64 billion.
As one of the biggest names in the tech sector, IBM is a barometer for both customer spending and the M&A climate, although Bailey warned that there might be more upside for investors elsewhere.
"While we expect a solid December-quarter report from IBM, we do not think the results will serve as a major catalyst for the stock in either direction, given heightened expectations," he wrote, adding that he is neutral on IBM's shares, despite strong earnings potential. "We continue to believe that investors will move toward companies that will benefit the most as the IT-demand environment improves by demonstrating significant top-line growth and earnings upside, including
EMC
(EMC)
,
Dell
(DELL) - Get Report
,
Arrow
(ARW) - Get Report
and
Molex
(MOLX)
."
IBM is nonetheless
services and its
Smarter Planet
strategy to drive revenue growth, a
at a time when users are
their hardware spending.
During the third quarter, profit from IBM's services business grew 11% and its software business enjoyed a 21% profit hike.
IBM shares rose $2.34, or 1.79%, to $134.14 during late-day trading on Tuesday.
-- Reported by James Rogers in New York
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