IBM shares rise after unveiling $15B cybersecurity and quantum investment plan - Yahoo! Finance Canada
Summarize this article with:
IBM shares rise after unveiling $15B cybersecurity and quantum investment plan Proactive Thu, May 28, 2026 at 4:03 p.m. EDT 2 min read IBM +3.53% IBM shares rise after unveiling $15B cybersecurity and quantum investment plan Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM) shares rose more than 3% on Thursday to trade at about $264 after the company announced a combined $15 billion investment initiative focused on cybersecurity and quantum computing, moves that Wedbush said could help “future-proof” the company’s business amid rapid technological shifts. The company unveiled a new cybersecurity effort with Red Hat called Project Lightwell, backed by a $5 billion commitment aimed at securing open-source software using AI-driven tools and services. IBM said it plans to dedicate 20,000 engineers to help enterprises strengthen software security through patch development, dependency hardening, release engineering, and AI-assisted vulnerability management. As part of the initiative, IBM also plans to launch an open-source security clearinghouse designed to help enterprises identify vulnerabilities, deploy validated patches, and coordinate disclosures across software ecosystems. Wedbush said the project addresses growing concerns around advanced AI models and rising cybersecurity threats tied to open-source software. The firm said the initiative builds on IBM’s broader AI and security strategy while helping enterprises protect modern AI systems and infrastructure. Separately, IBM announced a $10 billion investment over the next five years to expand its quantum computing capabilities through research and development, manufacturing, ecosystem partnerships, capital spending, and acquisitions. The company said the goal is to deliver its first fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. The announcement follows recent US Department of Commerce funding aimed at accelerating domestic quantum innovation, including $1 billion awarded to IBM to help build an American quantum chip foundry. Wedbush noted that IBM has developed more than 90 quantum systems and has partnerships spanning more than 65% of Fortune 500 companies, as well as universities, startups, and government agencies. The firm said IBM’s positioning at the intersection of AI and quantum computing remains “underappreciated.” Wedbush maintained its 'Outperform' rating on IBM shares and reiterated its $320 price target.