10 Best May Dividend Stocks to Buy

7. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)

Ex-Dividend Date: May 8

On April 23, BMO Capital Markets lowered its price recommendation on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) to $270 from $290. It reiterated a Market Perform rating. The analyst said Q1 software organic growth came in below expectations, even with stronger performance at Red Hat. The firm added that it still finds it difficult to justify a premium software multiple at the company’s current organic growth level.

On the same day, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives lowered the price target on Outperform-rated IBM to $320 from $340. The change reflects a lower multiple tied to $600M of Confluent dilution and some near-term softness in consulting. The firm noted that IBM still reported Q1 results with beats on both revenue and earnings. It also maintained its FY26 outlook for revenue and free cash flow, taking what it described as a prudent approach amid macro headwinds, while seeing stronger demand for AI within software services.

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) provides hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence, along with consulting services. Its business is organized across Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments.