US Stock Market Move | IBM (IBM.US) rose more than 5% Software department growth strong Fourth quarter performance exceeds expectations

On Thursday, IBM (IBM.US) rose over 5%, closing at $311.15. The financial report showed that IBM's fourth-quarter revenue grew by 12% year-on-year to $19.7 billion, higher than the expected $19.2 billion; earnings per share under non-GAAP were $4.52, exceeding expectations by $0.23. This strong growth was mainly attributed to its highly watched software division. IBM expects its revenue growth in 2026 to exceed 5% after adjusting for currency fluctuations. This forecast surpasses Wall Street's expectation of 4.1%. Free cash flow is projected to be around $15.7 billion, also surpassing analysts' average expectations. CEO Arvind Krishna stated in a release, "We are entering 2026 with strong momentum and strength."