Cybersecurity Stocks Plummet Amid AI Concerns
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 24 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Cybersecurity Stock Decline: Following Anthropic's launch of Claude Code Security, which scans for code vulnerabilities and suggests fixes, shares of cybersecurity firms fell sharply, with IBM experiencing a nearly 13.2% drop, indicating market fears about AI's potential to disrupt the sector.
- European Market Struggles: The Stoxx 600 index fell by 0.45%, primarily impacted by Novo Nordisk's stock, which plummeted over 15% due to disappointing trial results for its next-generation weight loss drug, reflecting waning confidence in the pharmaceutical sector.
- Bitcoin Price Drop: Bitcoin lost more than 5% and fell below $63,000, nearing half of its record high of over $125,000, highlighting instability in the cryptocurrency market that could affect investor sentiment.
- Increased Trade Uncertainty: The EU's trade deal with the U.S. is
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Analyst Views on IBM
Wall Street analysts forecast IBM stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 253.710
Low
210.00
Averages
315.80
High
375.00
Current: 253.710
Low
210.00
Averages
315.80
High
375.00
About IBM
International Business Machines Corporation is a provider of global hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) and consulting expertise. The Company’s segments include Software, Consulting, Infrastructure and Financing. The Software segment includes hybrid cloud and AI platforms, which allow clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. The Consulting segment focuses on integrating skills on strategy, experience, technology and operations by domain and industry. The Infrastructure segment is focused on the hybrid cloud infrastructure market, providing on-premises and cloud-based server and storage solutions. In addition, it offers a portfolio of life-cycle services for hybrid cloud infrastructure deployment. The Financing segment provides client and commercial financing, facilitating its clients’ acquisition of hardware, software and services. It helps clients in more than 175 countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Performance Beat: Last quarter, IBM reported revenues of $19.69 billion, up 12.1% year-on-year, exceeding analyst expectations and also showing strong performance in earnings per share, reflecting the company's competitiveness in the market.
- Positive Market Sentiment: In the IT services and other tech segments, investor sentiment has been optimistic, with related stocks rising an average of 10.8% over the past month, while IBM's stock has also increased by 2.5%, indicating market confidence in its future performance.
- Stable Analyst Expectations: Despite IBM missing Wall Street's revenue estimates multiple times over the past two years, analysts have generally reaffirmed their expectations over the last 30 days, suggesting a cautiously optimistic outlook for the company's upcoming earnings report.
See More
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- Tesla Earnings Anticipation: Tesla (TSLA) is set to report Q1 earnings after the bell, with market expectations high for its performance in AI and autonomous driving, particularly following reports that Samsung is quadrupling DRAM production for Tesla, reflecting strong confidence in its technological demands.
- IBM Earnings Watch: IBM will also report Q1 earnings early today, with investors closely monitoring commentary on enterprise AI demand and software growth to assess its competitiveness in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
- Economic Data Catalyst: Traders will be watching for the EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report at 10:30 AM ET, which could influence market sentiment and provide critical insights for subsequent trading activities.
See More
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- Industry Dynamics: Boeing's shares have dropped 12% in the last three months and are 14% off their 52-week high, highlighting concerns in the aerospace manufacturing sector.
- Dividend Yield: AT&T offers a quarterly dividend of 28 cents per share, yielding 4.29%, and despite a 13% decline since its September peak, it continues to attract some investor interest.
See More
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- Chip Strategy Enhancement: Johny Srouji has been appointed as Chief Hardware Engineer, overseeing the development of Apple's in-house chips, signaling the company's commitment to reducing reliance on external suppliers and strengthening its autonomy in chip design.
- AI Capability Boost: Apple's chip team has scaled to thousands of engineers focused on enhancing AI performance on devices, which is expected to further solidify its competitive edge in the smart device market.
- Supply Chain Localization: Apple has committed to a $600 billion investment in the U.S. to establish an end-to-end silicon supply chain, reflecting its emphasis on American manufacturing while potentially enhancing supply chain stability in the global market.
See More
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- Chip Autonomy Strategy: Srouji's new role underscores Apple's commitment to in-house chip design, reducing reliance on external suppliers, particularly in the AI sector, which is anticipated to improve product performance and user experience.
- Global Engineering Team Expansion: Apple's chip team has scaled to thousands of engineers across multiple countries, including Israel, Germany, and the U.S., demonstrating its capability and resource integration in global R&D efforts.
- Future Development Direction: Apple plans to continue investing in domestic chip production over the next few years, which is expected to drive innovation in AI and other high-tech fields, further solidifying its market position.
See More
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- Market Reaction and Stock Volatility: Despite a 13.5% drop in IBM's stock year-to-date, analysts believe growth in automation and transaction processing will drive a rebound, especially as the AI narrative strengthens.
- Investor Focus: Investors will closely watch management's comments on the Confluent acquisition, quantum computing initiatives, and AI infrastructure, as these factors could significantly impact future growth prospects and market confidence.
See More
