IBM stock forecast: Third-party price targets

IBM (IBM) is trading at $284.62 as of 3:23pm UTC on 20 October 2025, approaching its intraday high of $285.25 and up from the day's low of $272.14.

By Dan Mitchell6 hours ago

IBM stock forecast — Photo: Shutterstock.com

As of 20 October 2025, IBM’s share price movements reflect the company’s new partnership with Groq to advance enterprise AI deployment. The collaboration integrates Groq's high-speed inference technology into IBM’s watsonx Orchestrate platform, enhancing AI processing speeds by up to five times compared with traditional GPU systems (IBM Newsroom, 20 October 2025).

The US Dollar Index traded around 98.55 on the same date, up 0.12% from the previous session (Trading Economics, 29 October 2025).

IBM stock forecast: Analyst price target view

Morgan Stanley (neutral stance)

Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring maintained an Equal-Weight rating, raising the price target from $253 to $256. The firm noted steady organic growth across IBM's software and consulting segments, while citing a balanced risk–reward profile ahead of third-quarter results. The update reflects modest upward revisions linked to foreign exchange tailwinds and ongoing Red Hat momentum (GuruFocus, 15 October 2025).

Bernstein (market perform initiation)

Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and a price target of $280. The firm highlighted IBM's progress in hybrid cloud and AI integration through watsonx as potential catalysts, while noting that the company must maintain mid-single-digit revenue growth and consistent software acceleration to justify further multiple expansion (GuruFocus, 16 October 2025).

RBC Capital Markets (outperform view)

RBC Capital analyst Matthew Swanson reiterated an Outperform rating with a price target of $315. The firm expects IBM to deliver solid third-quarter results ahead of its 22 October earnings release, citing AI-led software bookings, Red Hat’s mid-teens growth, and free cash flow improvements driven by generative-AI-based efficiency measures such as the ‘clientzero’ programme (Yahoo Finance, 19 October 2025).

Analyst price targets for IBM issued in September and October 2025 range from $256 to $315, with consensus leaning between Market Perform and Outperform. Firms are monitoring whether third-quarter software revenue – particularly Red Hat and watsonx AI bookings – can support IBM’s full-year growth guidance and validate its premium valuation relative to enterprise software peers.

Predictions and third-party forecasts are subject to change and cannot account for unforeseen market developments. Past performance should not be relied upon as an indicator of future results.

IBM stock price: Technical overview

IBM is trading at $284.62 as of 3:23pm UTC on 20 October 2025, holding above its moving-average cluster – the 20-, 50-, 100- and 200-day SMAs at approximately 282 / 262 / 268 / 257 – with a 20-over-50 alignment intact, keeping the near-term structure constructive. Momentum remains firm: the 14-day RSI sits at 58.39 in upper-neutral territory, and the 14-day ADX reads 34.94, consistent with an established trend. The price trades roughly 11% above the 200-day SMA, indicating sustained longer-term support.

The first area to watch on the upside is the $301.26 pivot (R1). A daily close above this level would bring the $320.35 resistance (R2) into view and, if maintained, could reopen the path toward the year-to-date high near $301, recorded in early October. On pullbacks, initial support lies near the pivot at $269.75, followed by the 100-day SMA around $268. A decisive move below this area would weaken the short-term trend and increase the risk of a deeper retracement toward the 50-day SMA near $262.

The 20-day volume-weighted moving average (VWMA) at $282.65 runs just below the current price, providing intraday support, while the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $254.11 offers a broader structural base, roughly 11% below current levels. Oscillators remain largely neutral, with the MACD (12,26) showing a mild sell signal at 4.52, though this is set against a backdrop of bullish moving-average alignment across key timeframes (TradingView, 20 October 2025).

This technical overview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any instrument.

IBM Corp share price history

IBM shares opened at $136.35 on 23 October 2023 and climbed steadily through early 2024, reaching $197.95 on 12 March 2024 as enterprise software demand improved and the company’s AI strategy continued to gain traction.

The stock experienced notable volatility in April 2024, rising to $260.05 on 23 April before falling back to $228.08 the same day – a 32-point intraday swing – amid broader tech-sector uncertainty and shifting interest-rate expectations. IBM then traded sideways through the summer, moving between $163 and $196 as investors assessed Red Hat’s performance and the z17 mainframe cycle. The shares closed at $201.45 on 30 August 2024.

Late 2024 brought renewed momentum, with IBM breaking above $230 in mid-October and reaching $252.48 on 31 July 2025 as AI and hybrid-cloud bookings strengthened. The rally extended into early October 2025, when the stock reached an intraday high of $314.72 on 7 October – a record peak – before easing on profit-taking.

IBM closed at $284.05 on 20 October 2025, approximately 29.3% higher year to date and 38.4% higher year on year.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Capital.com’s client sentiment for IBM Corp CFDs

As of 20 October 2025, Capital.com client positioning in IBM CFDs is currently skewed towards long positions, with 98% buyers and 2% sellers, placing buyers ahead by 96 percentage points.

This snapshot represents open positions on the Capital.com platform and may change as market conditions develop.

FAQ

Is IBM Corp a good stock to buy?

This depends on individual objectives and risk tolerance. IBM continues to focus on areas such as AI, hybrid cloud, and enterprise software, which have supported its recent performance. However, market conditions, competition, and wider economic trends can all influence the share price. Always carry out independent research before making any trading decisions.

Could IBM Corp stock go up or down?

IBM’s share price can move in either direction based on several factors, including quarterly results, sector sentiment, currency movements, and macroeconomic developments. Third-party analyst forecasts currently range from $256 to $315 for 2025, but these are subject to change and should not be viewed as indicators of future performance.

Should I invest in IBM Corp stock?

Capital.com does not provide investment advice. Whether IBM is suitable for your portfolio depends on your financial goals, trading approach, and appetite for risk. Consider using a demo account to explore IBM CFDs and understand market behaviour before committing funds. CFDs are traded on margin, and leverage amplifies both your profits and your losses.

How can I trade IBM Corp stock with Capital.com?

You can trade IBM Corp CFDs on Capital.com’s award-winning platform or mobile app, going long or short to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying shares. The platform provides real-time market data, built-in risk management tools, and educational resources to help you make informed trading decisions.