Security National Bank increased its position in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: IBM) by 38.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the institution’s most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The bank acquired an additional 6,122 shares during the quarter, bringing its total holding to 22,011 shares valued at approximately $6.52 million. IBM now represents 0.9% of Security National Bank’s investment portfolio, making it the institution’s 29th largest holding.
The purchase adds to a broader picture of growing institutional confidence in IBM. Vanguard Group lifted its position by 1.5% in Q4, taking its total holding to over 97 million shares worth approximately $28.8 billion.
Capital World Investors raised its stake by 13.9% in the third quarter to reach more than 17 million shares. Franklin Resources increased its position by 64.7% in Q3, while Amundi lifted its holding by 17.9% over the same period. Institutional investors collectively own approximately 58.96% of IBM’s outstanding stock.
IBM reported earnings per share of $1.91 for the most recent quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.81 by $0.10. Revenue came in at $15.92 billion against analyst expectations of $15.60 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 9.5%. The company’s return on equity stands at 37.23% with a net margin of 15.61%.
On the analyst side, HSBC upgraded IBM from reduce to hold and raised its price target to $231. Argus holds a price target of $360. The consensus rating across Wall Street sits at Moderate Buy, with an average price target of $294.41.
IBM also announced a quarterly dividend of $1.69 per share, payable June 10, representing a slight increase on the prior quarter and an annualised yield of approximately 3.1%. The stock carries a market capitalisation of $206.37 billion and a 52-week range of $212.34 to $324.90.
