IBM beat every single number across the board. Amazing to see the stock trade lower. AMAZZZZZING. I would never have thought to see this stock trading lower on such a powerful earnings report.
IBM (IBM - commentary - Cramer's Take - Rating) beat Wall Street's expectations for the fourth quarter on both the top and bottom lines late Thursday, but late traders were turning their backs on the stock.
In recent after-hours trading, IBM shares were off nearly 4% to $95.66.
Big Blue earned $3.54 billion, or $2.31 a share, compared with profit of $2.26, compared with $3.19 billion, or $1.99 a share, a year earlier.
On a continuing operations basis, the company earned $2.26 a share, which includes a 6-cent-a-share tax benefit.
Excluding the benefit, IBM earned $2.20 a share, beating Thomson Financial analyst estimates of $2.19 a share.
IBM's revenue for the three-month period totaled $26.3 billion compared with $24.4 billion for the fourth quarter a year ago.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had forecast revenue of $25.66 billion.
"IBM had a terrific quarter and a good year with record cash performance, profit and EPS, as well as record payouts to shareholders," Samuel Palmisano, IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "We are well-positioned in the growth areas of a changing IT industry, focused on our evolving business model, and poised for long-term success for our clients and shareholders."
IBM global services revenue hit $12.77 billion, rising from $12 billion in the same quarter 2005. Services signings grew 55% to $17.8 billion, the company said.
Software sales totaled $5.65 billion, growing 14% from the same period last year. Hardware, meanwhile, grew to $7.19 billion from $6.9 billion.