IBM Corp

Business Resume

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) , incorporated in 1911 , uses advanced information technology to provide customer solutions. The Company operates using several segments that create value by offering a variety of solutions, including, either singularly or in some combination, technologies, systems, products, services, software and financing. Organizationally, the Company's three hardware product segments are comprised of Technology, Personal Systems and Enterprise Systems. IBM's other major operations consist of a Global Services segment, a Software segment, a Global Financing segment and an Enterprise Investments segment.

The Technology segment produces peripheral equipment for use in general-purpose computer systems, including storage devices, networking components, advanced-function printers and display devices. In addition, the segment provides components, such as semiconductors and HDDs, for use in the Company's products and for sale to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Major business units include Microelectronics, Storage Technology and Printing Systems.

The Personal Systems segment produces general-purpose computer systems, including some system and consumer software that operate applications for use by one user at a time (personal computer clients) or as servers. Major brands include the Aptiva home personal computers, IntelliStation workstations, IBM xSeries servers, NetVista and ThinkPad mobile systems. In the first quarter of 2000, the Company transferred the Retail Store Solutions (RSS) business, a provider of point-of-sale solutions, to the Personal Systems segment, from the Enterprise Investments segment. The Company also reorganized the Server segment and renamed it the Enterprise Systems segment. In accordance with the organizational change, the Company transferred system-level product businesses from the Technology segment to the Enterprise Systems segment.

The system-level product businesses are the Company's disk storage products, which include the Enterprise Storage Server, known as "Shark," tape subsystems and the Company's storage area networking program and networking products. The segment also produces multi-purpose computer servers that operate many open-network-based applications simultaneously for multiple users. They perform high-volume transaction processing and serve data to personal systems and other end user devices. The servers are the engines behind the bulk of electronic business transactions, including e-commerce. Brands include the zSeries mainframe servers, comprising the heart of the e-business infrastructure for mission-critical data and transaction processing, the IBM pSeries servers, which are technologically advanced UNIX servers, and the IBM iSeries mid-range servers, which are integrated mid-range business servers that run sophisticated business applications.

The Global Services segment is an information technology (I/T) services provider, supporting computer hardware and software products, and providing professional services to help customers of all sizes realize the full value of information technology. The segment provides value through three primary lines of business, Strategic Outsourcing Services, Business Innovation Services and Integrated Technology Services.

Strategic Outsourcing Services creates business value through long-term strategic partnerships with customers by taking on responsibility for their processes and systems. Business Innovation Services provides business/industry consulting and end-to-end e-business implementation of such offerings as Supply Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Intelligence. Integrated Technology Services offers customers a single I/T partner to manage multi-vendor I/T systems' complexity in an e-business environment, including such traditional offerings as Product Support, Business Recovery Services, Site and Connectivity Services and Systems Management and Networking Services. Learning Services supports the three primary lines of business and helps customers design, develop and deploy curricula to educate their employees. The Global Services segment is suited to integrate the full range of the Company's and key industry participants' capabilities, including hardware, software, services and research.

The Software segment delivers operating systems for the Company's servers and e-business-enabling software (middleware) for IBM and non-IBM platforms. The segment's business offerings align with key customer opportunity areas, transformation and integration, leveraging information, organizational effectiveness and managing technology. In addition to its own development, product and marketing effort, the segment supports more than 35,000 Independent Software Vendors to ensure that the Company's software and hardware offerings are included in those partners' solutions.

The Global Financing segment is a provider of financing services for I/T. The segment provides lease and loan financing that enables the Company's customers to acquire complete I/T and e-business solutions (hardware, software and services) provided by the Company and its business partners. Global Financing, as a reliable source of capital for the distribution channel, also provides the Company's business partners with customized commercial financing for inventory, accounts receivable and term loans, helping them manage their cash flow, invest in infrastructure and grow their business.

The Enterprise Investments segment provides industry-specific information technology solutions, supporting the hardware, software and services segments of the Company. The segment develops products designed to meet specific marketplace requirements and to complement the Company's overall portfolio of products.

IBM offers its products through its global sales and distribution organizations. The sales and distribution organizations have both a geographic focus (in the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific), and a specialized and global industry focus. In addition, these organizations include a global sales and distribution effort devoted exclusively to small and medium businesses. IBM also offers its products and services through a variety of third-party business partners, including distributors and resellers, as well as through its online channels.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) uses advanced information technology to provide customer solutions, using several segments that create value by offering a variety of solutions, including technologies, systems, products, services, software and financing. Organizationally, the Company's three hardware product segments are comprised of Technology, Personal Systems and Enterprise Systems, while IBM's other major operations consist of a Global Services segment, a Software segment, a Global Financing segment and an Enterprise Investments segment.

IBM having its lowest 52-weeks price of $80.063 on 21-Dec.-2001 and recent price of $102.65  shows positive dynamics.   Even during the period, when the terrorist attacks had triggered dramatic fall of many shares, the IBM share price has been staying in range of $95.00-90.00.  An obvious bullish trend starting in the last decade of September is caused by the fact that IBM has announced launching its new information technology product on the market. 

IBM daily volumes are impressive, 3-month and 10-day averages both.  At the same time  the 10-day average of 11.2 mln pcs/day exceeds notably the 3-month one, 8.42 mln pcs daily.  This is a good sign for institutional investors, indicating  relative independence of a price from particular players and a growing interest to the company itself.

As we see,  IBM has 1.74 billion shares outstanding with only 0.02 billion shares (1,15%) belonging to company employees and  its directors, which calls for the same conclusions as ones on daily volumes. Market capitalization of $178.3B makes putting money into such shares a safe, promising investment.

IBM’s P/E, being 22.50 on Oct.,19, has grown to 24.02. Cash Per-Share and Sales Per-Share indicators are $2.18 and $49.79 respectively, which is a norm since   investing itself implies expectation of capital growth.