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2018-07-18 15:04:42 IBM IBM $144.11 / +0.65 (+0.45%) , GRPN Groupon $4.70 / +0.07 (+1.51%) 15:04 07/18/18 07/18 15:04 07/18/18 15:04	On The Fly: What to watch for in IBM's earnings report IBM (IBM) is scheduled to report results of its fiscal second quarter after the market close on July 18, with a conference call scheduled for 5:00 pm ET. What to watch for: 1. GUIDANCE: Along with its last report, IBM reaffirmed its fiscal 2018 adjusted EPS view of "at least" $13.80. At the time, analysts were expecting the company to report FY18 adjusted EPS of $13.84, but that estimate has since fallen to $13.78. The company noted on its quarterly call, however, that it expects its adjusted earnings in the first half to make up 40% of its FY18 guidance view. 2. FRANCE JOBS: On May 23, IBM announced a set of investments and initiatives in France that will create 1,800 jobs during the next two years. The jobs will be in "leading-edge" areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and internet-of-things. The company said it plans to hire business consultants, IT architects, developers and technical experts, including both new graduates and experienced professionals. Of the 1,800 new jobs, 400 will be AI-related roles that IBM announced in March, the company said. 3. WATSON CUTS: Meanwhile, The Register reported two days later that IBM had laid off roughly 50%-70% of employees in its Watson health division. The layoffs mainly affected workers within companies IBM had taken over in the past few years to augment Watson's credentials in the health industry, the Register said at the time. In addition, STAT News reported on June 15 that top management at IBM's Watson Health unit had informed employees that they are scaling back the part of their business that sells tools to help hospitals managed pay-for-performance contracts. The executives cited softening demand in the market as a reason for the move, the report said. 4. COLUMBIA BLOCKCHAIN: Yesterday, IBM and Columbia University announced a new center devoted to research, education, and innovation in blockchain technology and data transparency. The parties involved added that a formal call for proposals for curriculum development, business initiatives and research programs is scheduled for later this year. 5. GROUPON SUIT: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that IBM asked jurors to award the company $166.5M in damages from Groupon (GRPN) for allegedly using four patented technologies. IBM has accused Groupon of building its business on the back of IBM's e-commerce inventions without permission, Bloomberg noted. The $166.5M figure is anticipated to be a point of conflict throughout the federal trial in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, the report adds. IBM IBM $144.11 / +0.65 (+0.45%) GRPN Groupon $4.70 / +0.07 (+1.51%)	18 Jul 06 Aug

2018-07-18 15:04:42

IBM

$144.11 / +0.65 (+0.45%)

, GRPN

Groupon

$4.70 / +0.07 (+1.51%)

15:04

07/18/18

07/18

15:04

07/18/18

15:04

On The Fly: What to watch for in IBM's earnings report

IBM (IBM) is scheduled to report results of its fiscal second quarter after the market close on July 18, with a conference call scheduled for 5:00 pm ET. What to watch for: 1. GUIDANCE: Along with its last report, IBM reaffirmed its fiscal 2018 adjusted EPS view of "at least" $13.80. At the time, analysts were expecting the company to report FY18 adjusted EPS of $13.84, but that estimate has since fallen to $13.78. The company noted on its quarterly call, however, that it expects its adjusted earnings in the first half to make up 40% of its FY18 guidance view. 2. FRANCE JOBS: On May 23, IBM announced a set of investments and initiatives in France that will create 1,800 jobs during the next two years. The jobs will be in "leading-edge" areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and internet-of-things. The company said it plans to hire business consultants, IT architects, developers and technical experts, including both new graduates and experienced professionals. Of the 1,800 new jobs, 400 will be AI-related roles that IBM announced in March, the company said. 3. WATSON CUTS: Meanwhile, The Register reported two days later that IBM had laid off roughly 50%-70% of employees in its Watson health division. The layoffs mainly affected workers within companies IBM had taken over in the past few years to augment Watson's credentials in the health industry, the Register said at the time. In addition, STAT News reported on June 15 that top management at IBM's Watson Health unit had informed employees that they are scaling back the part of their business that sells tools to help hospitals managed pay-for-performance contracts. The executives cited softening demand in the market as a reason for the move, the report said. 4. COLUMBIA BLOCKCHAIN: Yesterday, IBM and Columbia University announced a new center devoted to research, education, and innovation in blockchain technology and data transparency. The parties involved added that a formal call for proposals for curriculum development, business initiatives and research programs is scheduled for later this year. 5. GROUPON SUIT: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that IBM asked jurors to award the company $166.5M in damages from Groupon (GRPN) for allegedly using four patented technologies. IBM has accused Groupon of building its business on the back of IBM's e-commerce inventions without permission, Bloomberg noted. The $166.5M figure is anticipated to be a point of conflict throughout the federal trial in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, the report adds.

IBM