Institutional Confidence Surges as Major Bank Amplifies IBM Stake

IBM US4592001014

A significant move by Dutch banking giant ING Groep NV has spotlighted institutional faith in International Business Machines Corp. (IBM). Regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reveal the bank aggressively expanded its holding in the technology firm during the third quarter, boosting its position by more than 1,300%. This substantial increase represents a powerful vote of confidence from a major financial institution.

ING now controls 228,852 shares of IBM, valued at approximately $64.57 million. This follows the acquisition of an additional 213,218 securities. The bank's activity aligns with broader ownership trends, as nearly 59% of all IBM shares are held by institutional investors.

The strong institutional interest is supported by IBM's recent financial performance and shareholder returns. For the fourth quarter of 2025, the company reported earnings per share of $4.52, surpassing analyst estimates of $4.33. Revenue saw a 12.2% increase, reaching $19.69 billion, which also exceeded market expectations.

Shareholders are set to receive a quarterly dividend of $1.68 per share on March 10. This equates to an annualized payout of $6.72, yielding about 2.3%. Notably, IBM maintains one of the longest dividend records in U.S. corporate history, with uninterrupted payments dating back to 1916.

Market researchers largely rate the stock as a "Moderate Buy." The average price target among analysts stands at $330.07, while the shares currently trade near $290.

A Wave of Investment Activity

Recent SEC disclosures indicate lively engagement with IBM from other sizable investors, underscoring a wider trend:

• Winnow Wealth LLC established a new position in the second quarter.
• A stake was initiated by Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. in Q3.
• Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC increased its holding by 129.1%.
• Copia Wealth Management raised its investment by 57.6%.
• Legacy Wealth Management LLC boosted its position by 48.5%.

Adding to the insider activity, IBM director David N. Farr purchased 1,000 shares on January 30, 2026, at a cost of $304,000. Following this transaction, his direct holdings total 9,258 shares, worth roughly $2.81 million.