IBM Corp
However, the company, which is wrapping up its $34 billion cloud deal for Linux software maker Red Hat Inc
IBM said revenue slipped to $21.76 billion in the three months ended Dec. 31, but came in above analysts` average estimate of $21.71 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
TRENDING NOW
The company reported net income of $1.95 billion, or $2.15 per share, compared with a loss of $1.05 billion, or $1.14 per share, a year earlier.
IBM recorded a charge of $1.9 billion related to the U.S. tax overhaul in the latest reported quarter. The company took a $5.5 billion charge related to the tax reform in the year-ago quarter.
Excluding special items, the company earned $4.87 per share. Analysts had expected $4.82. It was not immediately clear if the numbers were comparable.
IBM also forecast operating earnings for 2019 to be "at least" $13.90 per share, while analysts on average were expecting $13.79.
The company said it expects free cash flow of about $12 billion for the year, roughly in line with 2018. Analysts on average are expecting $12.67 billion for 2019.
Under Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rommetty, IBM has been refocusing toward faster-growing cloud and analytics services to lower its dependence on its traditional hardware products and reverse years of revenue declines
Underscoring that push, IBM in October agreed to buy Red Hat, a deal expected to close in the second half of the year.
The company is also shedding some of its legacy business as part of the shift. The company said in December it would sell some of its software products business to India`s HCL Technologies
IBM said its cloud business, part of what it refers to as "strategic imperatives", grew 12 percent to $19.2 billion in 2018.
The company`s cognitive software business, which houses artificial intelligence platform Watson, analytics and cybersecurity services and is its second biggest, reported sales of $5.46 billion, compared with analysts` expectation of $5.25 billion.
IBM`s revenue of $4.32 billion from its global businesses services segment also beat estimates of $4.15 billion.
The Armonk, New York-based technology services giant, which makes over 60 percent of its revenue from outside the United States, had warned in the third quarter that a strong dollar would hit its revenue.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
03:02 am
PwC Australia gave clients other than Google confidential tax info
US yields hit 2007 levels as Fed signals, shutdown fears stoke angst
Industrial production growth rises to five-month high of 5.7% in July
IMF urges pact to boost its resource quota, strengthen world economy
Australian economy grows modestly in Q2, eases recession fears
