IBM investors get first sign of turnaround

IBM gave investors a sign that Big Blue may finally be turning things around. Now it has to prove it can continue to drive momentum.

Revenue increased for the first time in a key unit — cognitive solutions, including its Watson artificial intelligence platform — that the company has been touting as crucial to future growth.

The second-quarter results may signal that Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rometty is making good on her promise to shift IBM’s software and services offerings to match customers’ increasing appetite for cloud-based solutions. It’s been an uphill battle. Overall, sales have declined 17 quarters in a row.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 4:33 PM with the headline "IBM investors get first sign of turnaround."