By Timothy Green
Publication Date: 2026-01-31 13:10:00
The mainframe business is thriving.
In the age of cloud computing, it’s easy to forget that IBM (IBM 0.82%) still sells its hulking mainframe systems. Following IBM’s fourth-quarter earnings report, it’s clear that the mainframe business is not only surviving but also thriving.
Here’s an incredible fact IBM CFO Jim Kavanaugh disclosed during the earnings call: IBM’s mainframe business recorded its best fourth quarter revenue in more than 20 years. Revenue soared 61% year over year, adjusted for currency, driving a 17% increase in the infrastructure segment.
Image source: Getty Images.
IBM’s mainframe systems are still widely used, particularly in industries that need extreme reliability and security. 71% of Fortune 500 companies use mainframes, according to Market Reports World. About 92% of large financial institutions and 63% of government agencies use mainframe systems in their operations, with IBM accounting for more than 90% of installed mainframe systems. Amazingly, over 87%…
