NEW YORK, Jan 19, 2026, 14:51 EST — Market closed.
- IBM wrapped up trading at $305.67, gaining 2.6%, despite U.S. markets being closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Company launched a new “Enterprise Advantage” AI consulting service and revealed an agentic AI rollout with e&
- Investors are eyeing the January 28 results for clues on demand and cash flow in 2026
International Business Machines Corp on Monday launched a new AI-focused consulting service and announced an enterprise “agentic AI” rollout with UAE-based e&, offering fresh news to investors amid the U.S. market’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday pause.
The reason this matters now is straightforward: IBM is approaching its quarterly earnings with a stock that’s been reacting to signals it can convert corporate AI spending into steady software and consulting income. The upcoming session offers investors their first real opportunity to gauge if Monday’s announcements shift the short-term outlook.
“Agentic AI” is quickly turning into a hot term in corporate tech spending. It usually means AI that can map out tasks and initiate actions within business software, not just respond to queries in a chat box. IBM is pushing this angle hard—and doing so openly—during a week when clients and investors are digging into what “AI at scale” actually translates to in revenue.
IBM unveiled its new Enterprise Advantage service aimed at helping companies build, govern, and operate internal AI platforms. The offering combines a set of tools with support from IBM consultants. According to the company, the service integrates with existing systems and works across multiple cloud providers and models, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. “Many organizations are investing in AI, but achieving real value at scale remains a major challenge,” said Mohamad Ali, head of IBM Consulting. 1
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, IBM and e& unveiled a new agentic AI solution aimed at governance and compliance tasks. The system uses IBM’s watsonx Orchestrate and links directly with IBM OpenPages, the company’s governance, risk, and compliance platform. e& CEO Hatem Dowidar said their goal is to shift “beyond isolated AI use cases” toward agentic AI that’s “trusted and governed.” IBM’s Ana Paula Assis stressed that governance and accountability will be vital as AI capabilities grow. 2
IBM released fresh survey data showing that almost 80% of executives believe AI will play a major role in driving revenue by 2030. The same group anticipates AI investments will surge about 150% over that period. “AI won’t just support businesses, it will define them,” Ali said in the announcement. 3
U.S. stock markets will be closed Monday for the holiday, reopening Tuesday. IBM investors face a one-day delay before they can respond to the Davos headlines. 4
IBM shares ended Friday at $305.67, marking a roughly 2.6% gain from the previous close. During the session, the stock fluctuated between $298.81 and $307.41, with around 6.2 million shares traded, according to market data.
IBM is set to release its fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 28, with a conference call slated for 5:00 p.m. ET, according to the company’s investor page. 5
Investors are keen to see if AI-driven demand is translating into lasting consulting projects, and whether software growth can sustain margins and cash flow through 2026. Any change in client spending or deal timing will hit the stock hard and fast.
But risks remain. AI initiatives sometimes hit snags in procurement, stall at pilot stages, or face hurdles around data and security. Plus, major clients might hold back spending if economic uncertainty grows. IBM’s latest push puts it in closer battle with global consultancies and the major cloud providers it claims to collaborate with.
Tuesday’s focus: can IBM’s stock maintain the gains from Friday as traders digest the Davos headlines? The next big test comes with IBM’s earnings and guidance set for Jan. 28.
