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CLAIM #31341 · IBM (IBM) · 2025Q4 earnings call · Jan 28, 2026 · due Dec 31, 2027

We expect to realize about $500 million of operational spend run rate synergies by 2027.

James J. Kavanaugh · CFO

PENDING
graded after results covering Dec 31, 2027 are reported

How to check this claim

Look at: Operational spend run rate synergies from Confluent acquisition, as disclosed by management

It came true if: Company-reported run rate synergies >= $450 million by end of 2027

Where: Management commentary on earnings calls / investor presentations through 2027

In context

should be in the mid-teens. And the timing of discrete items can cause the rate to vary within the year. Let me give a little bit more color on Confluent dilution dynamics. We anticipate absorbing about $600 million of dilution from Confluent in 2026. Driven largely by stock-based compensation and interest expense. We expect Confluent will be accretive to adjusted EBITDA within the first full year and to free cash flow in year two. Post close. We have multiple levers that underpin our confidence in these accretion targets. Including revenue synergies, operational spend synergies, and ongoing productivity savings. Revenue synergies include both the ability to accelerate revenue leveraging our go-to-market distribution platform, as well as drive product synergies, which play out over time. We expect to realize about $500 million of operational spend run rate synergies by 2027. We continue to accelerate our productivity initiatives and now expect an incremental $1 billion of productivity savings this year. Driving $5.5 billion of annual run rate savings by 2026. Taking this all into account, we are confident in our ability to expand operating pretax margin by about a point in 2026. For free cash flow, we expect to grow about $1 billion in 2026. In line with our Investor Day model of high single-digit growth. Given the strong fundamentals of our business, adjusted EBITDA growth will be the primary driver of our free cash flow. Offset by similar factors as last year. Including cash tax headwinds, higher CapEx, and higher net interest expense. Looking to the first quarter, we expect our constant currency revenue growth rate to be similar to the full year. And for o

Verify independently

SEC filings for IBM · Claim quote is verbatim from the 2025Q4 earnings call.