IBM announced on Monday that it will invest $150 billion in the United States over the next five years, with part of the funding earmarked for expanding facilities dedicated to quantum computer production.
The move aligns with a broader trend of American technology companies backing the Trump administration’s push for increased domestic manufacturing.
The announcement follows similar commitments from tech giants such as Nvidia and Apple, both of which have pledged to invest about $500 billion each in the U.S. over the next four years.
Several analysts view the recent wave of investment promises as efforts by major tech firms to maintain favor with President Donald Trump, whose trade policies and tariffs have threatened to disrupt global supply chains and raise industry costs.
IBM, a significant government contractor, said more than $30 billion of its planned investment will focus on boosting the domestic production of quantum computers and mainframes — crucial systems for managing large volumes of data and supporting critical applications.
The company operates one of the world’s largest fleets of quantum computing systems, which promise performance exponentially greater than traditional computers. However, industry leaders remain divided on how soon quantum computing will have widespread practical use. While Google aims to launch commercial applications within five years, Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang predicts a 20-year timeline.
D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria described IBM’s $150 billion figure as likely “a gesture towards the U.S. administration,” suggesting the pledges serve partly as a shield against escalating trade conflicts.
IBM’s announcement comes at a challenging time for the company. Last week, it revealed that 15 of its government contracts had been canceled as part of a Trump administration cost-cutting initiative, a setback that overshadowed IBM’s optimistic revenue forecast for the June quarter and pressured its stock price.
As of December 31, IBM reported cash and cash equivalents totaling $14.8 billion. Last year, the company spent $1.13 billion on capital expenditures, with total expenses reaching $29.75 billion.
