IBM raised its full year outlook after it posted a 15 per cent rise in first quarter earnings on strong demand for its software services and growth in emerging markets.
The company said today that revenue was flat at $24.7 billion compared with the previous year and net earnings were up 7 per cent at $3.1 billion in the first three months of the year.
International Business Machines, which has been shifting its focus from hardware to higher-margin services and software over the past decade, said that earnings per share, excluding exceptional items, was $2.78 - beating average analysts' earnings per share estimates of $2.65 and in line with revenue expectations of $24.78 billion.
IBM raised its full year target to at least $15 adjusted earnings per shape from previously at least $14.85.
IBM competes with business software makers Oracle Corp and SAP AG as well as outsourcing company Accenture and computing giant Hewlett Packard.
The company employs 3,000 staff in Ireland at a number of different operations around the country.
Reuters
