New York, Jan 18, 2026, 14:31 EST — Market closed.
- IBM shares climbed 2.59% on Friday, closing at $305.67. 1
- IBM’s Institute for Business Value rolled out a new AI outlook, claiming that “by 2030, it will be the business model.” 2
- U.S. stock markets will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with trading resuming Tuesday. 3
Shares of International Business Machines (IBM) rose 2.6% on Friday, closing at $305.67. The stock wrapped up the week with strength before the U.S. markets closed for the holiday break.
This shift is significant since IBM’s next big headlines will drop while cash equity trading is on hold. The World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos Monday, but with Wall Street closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, investors will have to process company and policy updates without active market action.
This comes as IBM approaches its late-January earnings report, where it is set to detail its outlook for 2026 in software, consulting, and demand linked to generative AI — technologies capable of creating text, code, and other content.
IBM announced it will release its fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 28, followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET. 4
Over the weekend, IBM rolled out a preview of a new Institute for Business Value study timed with the Davos kickoff. IBM Consulting exec Mohamad Ali said, “AI won’t just support businesses, it will define them.” At the same time, IBM vice chairman Gary Cohn told Axios he’s not expecting a sudden AI takeover — no “day that AI rules the world.” Instead, he sees adoption unfolding more gradually. 5
The report paints a more mixed picture: big ambitions clash with unclear returns. IBM found that 79% of executives anticipate AI will drive significant revenue by 2030, yet just 24% can pinpoint where that revenue will actually originate.
IBM edged higher on Friday, bucking a modest dip across the broader market. About 6 million shares changed hands, a pace above its recent average. The stock closed roughly 6% shy of its 52-week peak. 6
U.S. stocks closed the week slightly lower as the initial wave of earnings reports hit, prompting investors to rotate between defensive plays and major tech names. 7
Markets being closed Monday puts the spotlight on headlines coming out of Davos. All eyes will be on whether IBM’s AI messaging shifts the tone ahead of Tuesday’s reopening. Traders are also tuned for any wider clues on corporate tech budgets from other industry reports.
But the setup works both ways. IBM heads into its earnings near recent peaks, and any hint of slowing enterprise spending, delayed projects, or tighter pricing could shake a stock that’s already factored in steadier growth than many legacy tech firms.
Tuesday marks the return from the holiday, with IBM’s Jan. 28 earnings and conference call next on the calendar. Investors will lean on that report to gauge how the company’s bigger AI ambitions stack up against 2026 forecasts.
