Cash & Equivalents
International Business Machines Cash & Equivalents decreased by 33.2% to $5.00B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 55.2%, from $11.16B to $5.00B. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Cash & Equivalents shows a downward trend with a -10.7% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase signals improved liquidity and financial flexibility, while a decrease may indicate heavy capital expenditure, debt repayment, or aggressive share buybacks.
Detailed definition
Represents the most liquid assets on the balance sheet, including physical currency and short-term investments with matu...
Peer comparison
Large-cap technology peers often maintain high cash balances to fund rapid innovation and offset the cyclical nature of consumer electronics.
cash_and_equivalentsHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $7.35B | $7.46B | $6.65B | $9.93B | $7.03B | $7.82B | $7.89B | $9.34B | $9.43B | $7.28B | $13.09B | $14.77B | $14.48B | $13.21B | $14.16B | $11.16B | $12.03B | $11.60B | $7.49B | $5.00B |
| QoQ Change | — | +1.4% | -10.8% | +49.4% | -29.2% | +11.1% | +0.9% | +18.4% | +0.9% | -22.8% | +79.9% | +12.8% | -1.9% | -8.7% | +7.2% | -21.2% | +7.8% | -3.5% | -35.5% | -33.2% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -4.3% | +4.8% | +18.6% | -6.0% | +34.0% | -6.9% | +66.0% | +58.1% | +53.6% | +81.6% | +8.2% | -24.4% | -16.9% | -12.2% | -47.1% | -55.2% |
Cash & Equivalents at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is International Business Machines's cash & equivalents?
- International Business Machines (IBM) reported cash & equivalents of $5.00B in Q1 2026.
- How has International Business Machines's cash & equivalents changed year-over-year?
- International Business Machines's cash & equivalents decreased by 55.2% year-over-year, from $11.16B to $5.00B.
- What is the long-term trend for International Business Machines's cash & equivalents?
- Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), International Business Machines's cash & equivalents has grown at a -10.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $13.21B to $7.49B.
- What does cash & equivalents mean?
- Money in the bank and very short-term investments that can be turned into cash almost instantly.