IBM’s stock crashed 25 percent on July 14, its worst single-day fall ever, after mainframe revenue dropped 42 percent. CEO Arvind Krishna insists the software shortfall was deferral, not destruction—a third of the delayed deals closed within three weeks. IBM cut its 2026 growth forecast, but is betting $5 billion on Lightwell and over $10 billion on quantum computing. IBM’s stock crashed 25 percent on July 14, its worst single-day fall ever, after mainframe revenue dropped 42 percent. CEO Arvind Krishna insists the software shortfall was deferral, not destruction—a third of the delayed deals closed within three weeks. IBM cut its 2026 growth forecast, but is betting $5 billion on Lightwell and over $10 billion on quantum computing.
