Michelle J. Howard, a director at International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM), reported acquiring 50 shares of the company's common stock on February 25, 2026. The position was opened at a purchase price of $237.83 per share, bringing the total value of the transaction to $11,891. Following the filing, Howard's direct holdings in IBM total 194 shares.
The timing of the purchase coincides with a broader weakness in IBM's equity. Year-to-date, the stock has slipped 19% and, over the most recent week, declined 7.3%. At the time of the report, the share price was trading near its 52-week low of $214.50.
Alongside the insider purchase, public company metrics highlighted in available research materials show IBM currently offering a dividend yield of 2.83%. The company has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years, according to the InvestingPro analysis referenced in company filings and research summaries. For investors seeking expanded coverage, InvestingPro provides a Pro Research Report for IBM and more than 1,400 U.S. stocks.
Market participants and analysts continue to express differing views on IBM's trajectory. Morgan Stanley lowered its price target to $247 and kept an Equalweight rating, citing concerns related to AI disruption as a factor in its adjustment. In contrast, UBS moved its stance to Neutral from Sell and established a $236 price target, pointing to what it sees as a more balanced risk-reward profile.
Other firms offered more bullish targets while noting competitive dynamics. Wedbush reiterated an Outperform rating and maintained a $340 price target despite commentary about potential competition from Anthropic's Claude Code tool and the possible implications for systems built on COBOL. Evercore ISI continued to rate IBM Outperform, emphasizing the company's mainframe business and describing that franchise as an integrated platform that extends beyond COBOL code alone. Jefferies reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $370 price target, citing IBM's work to modernize legacy systems using tools such as watsonx Code Assistant for Z.
Collectively, the insider transaction and the range of analyst opinions underscore active investor focus on IBM's mix of legacy mainframe strength, dividend income characteristics, and the company's efforts to modernize using AI-related tooling. The purchase by a board member represents a modest personal investment relative to market capitalization but adds a datapoint to the ongoing market conversation about valuation and strategic direction.
Additional disclosure: InvestingPro analysis and Pro Research Reports were cited in company-related commentary and are available across 1,400+ U.S. stocks as noted in the referenced materials.