Confluent (real-time data streaming)
Acquisition closed March 17, 2026 at about $11.6B; integrations with watsonx.data, MQ and IBM Z are the next step.
The numbers
Total purchase price$11,590Mas of Mar 31, 2026 · source ↗
What it is
Confluent is a data-streaming platform built on Apache Kafka that moves live data between systems. IBM bought it at $31 per share, about $11B in enterprise value, and plans to combine it with watsonx.data, MQ, webMethods and IBM Z.
Why it matters to the stock. The deal adds a streaming platform to the Software segment. Traders will watch whether it lifts Data growth in the coming quarters.
News
IBM completes $11B Confluent acquisition at $31 per share in cash
IBM completed its acquisition of Confluent, the Apache Kafka data-streaming company, for $31 per share in cash, about $11B in enterprise value.
M&A