DARPA Advances IBM (IBM) to Phase 3 of Quantum Benchmarking Init

On October 08, 2026, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) selected IBM (NYSE: IBM) alongside IonQ to move forward into the third phase of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. This pivotal stage, valued up to $300 million depending on future funding, marks a shift from theoretical designs to practical hardware testing aimed at fault-tolerant quantum computing.

• IBM offers a dividend yield of 2.84% with a conservative payout ratio of 46%, supported by modest dividend growth of 0.6% over three years; its GF Value™ of $243.16 suggests the stock is approximately 9.3% undervalued relative to the current price, underpinning dividend sustainability.
• IBM’s GF Score™ stands at a solid 77 out of 100, reflecting a balanced combination of financial strength, profitability, and valuation metrics.
• Insider activity shows net selling over the past 12 months with $5.8 million in shares sold versus $0.4 million bought, while 12 prominent gurus hold IBM shares, with 6…