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International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) primarily generates revenue today through consulting, infrastructure, and software.
IBM was founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R). But the computer giant traces its roots back to the 1880s. During that decade, Dr. Alexander Dey invented the first dial recorder for his business, while a second enterprise, Bundy Manufacturing, became the first time-recording company. Both companies became key building blocks of C-T-R.
More recently, IBM has become a global information technology company focused on software, cloud computing, and consulting services.
The top shareholders of IBM are Arvind Krishna, James J. Kavanaugh, and Gary D. Cohn, Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock Inc., and State Street Corp. Below, take a closer look at them.
Key Takeaways
- International Business Machines, better known as IBM, is one of the largest and most successful technology companies in the world.
- IBM was a pioneer in computing, developing technology that led to personal computing.
- The company is part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500.
- Its largest individual shareholders are Arvind Krishna, James J. Kavanaugh, and Gary D. Cohn; all employees of IBM.
- It’s largest institutional shareholders are Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock Inc., and State Street Corp
Top 3 Individual Insider Shareholders
The shareholders listed below have direct ownership. This list does not include indirect ownership of shares or shares accessible through stock options.
Important
“Insider” refers to people in senior management positions and members of the board of directors, as well as people or entities that own more than 10% of the company’s stock. In this context, “insider” has nothing to do with insider trading.
Arvind Krishna
Arvind Krishna owns 396,341 shares of IBM as of Dec. 31, 2024, representing 0.04% of all outstanding company shares. Krishna is CEO of IBM, after serving as Senior Vice President of Cloud and Cognitive Software, IBM’s fastest-growing business. He also headed IBM Research.
Krishna has been a key driver of IBM’s push into cloud computing in recent years, and as head of IBM Research, he guided the company through developments in blockchain, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing technologies. Krishna was a major architect of IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat.
Gary D. Cohn
Gary D. Cohn owns 67,828 shares of IBM as of Dec. 31, 2024, representing 0.01% of all outstanding shares. Cohn is the Vice Chairman, where he works with the Executive Leadership team on business initiatives in areas including development, public advocacy, and client relationship management.
Prior to that, from 2017 to 2018, he served as Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and as the Director of the National Economic Council. Before that role, he was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs from 2006-2016.
James J. Kavanaugh
James J. Kavanaugh owns 124,223 shares of IBM as of Dec. 31, 2024, representing 0.01% of all outstanding shares. Since 2018, Kavanaugh has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IBM, overseeing the company’s global financial operations. In these roles, he also leads the company’s Global Financing business. Kavanaugh joined IBM in 1996 and has held a variety of financial leadership roles for the company, including Vice President of Finance for the Americas Group and IBM EMEA.
From 2008 to 2015, he was IBM’s Controller, and from 2015 to 2018, he was Senior Vice President, Transformation & Operations. In his current role, he continues to oversee Transformation & Operations, leading the company in aligning its operating model with fundamental industry shifts. Prior to IBM, Kavanaugh was the chief financial officer for the Americas Global Services unit at AT&T Corp.
Top 3 Institutional Shareholders
Institutional investors hold the majority of IBM shares at 63.62% of the total shares outstanding, as of June 30, 2025.
Vanguard Group Inc.
As of June 30, 2025, Vanguard Group owns 95.05 million shares of IBM, representing 10.2% of total shares outstanding. The company is primarily a mutual fund and ETF management company. The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT), which tracks a market-cap-weighted index of IT companies, owns IBM. The company represents about 1.23% of the fund’s portfolio (as of Aug. 31, 2025). This is not the only Vanguard fund that holds IBM.
BlackRock Inc.
As of March 31, 2024, BlackRock owns 75.1 million shares of IBM, representing 8.17% of total shares outstanding. The company is primarily a mutual fund and ETF management company. The iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW), which invests in U.S. electronics, computer software and hardware, and informational technology companies, owns IBM. One of the top twenty holdings, IBM holds 1.59% of the fund’s portfolio. This is not the only BlackRock fund that holds IBM.
State Street Corp.
As of June 30, 2025, State Street owns 54.54 million shares of IBM, representing 5.85% of total shares outstanding. State Street manages mutual funds, ETFs, and other investments. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA), which tracks a price-weighted index of 30 large-cap U.S. stocks, holds IBM. IBM represents 3.43% of the fund’s holdings. This is not the only State Street fund that holds IBM.
Is IBM Publicly Owned?
Yes, IBM is a publicly owned company and is on both the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the S&P 500.
What Is the Share Holding Pattern of IBM?
IBM is primarily held by institutional investors. In fact, of its 932 million shares outstanding, 63.62% is held by 3,600 institutional holders.
Who Owns the Majority of Shares of IBM?
Vanguard Group is the largest shareholder of IBM, holding 10.2% of total shares outstanding as of June 30, 2025.
The Bottom Line
IBM is a large, multinational technology company that is also one of the oldest. The company pioneered personal computers and concentrates its business on hardware, software, and middleware. As one of the companies on the DJIA and the S&P 500, it is an important investment for many institutional investors.
