We recently published Jim Cramer Discussed These 12 Stocks & Wondered Whether He Should Melt Silver.  Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is one of the stocks that Jim Cramer discussed. Customer relationship management software Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)’s shares are among the poorest performers in the market. They are down by 42% over the past year and by 21% year-to-date. Piper Sandler cut the share price target to $280 from $315 and maintained an Overweight rating on the shares in early February. The financia ...

Core Viewpoint - Concerns over growth and weak labor market data have led to significant declines in the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 index turning negative for the year [2][3][4]. Group 1: Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 600 points, a decline of approximately 1.2% [3]. - The S&P 500 index also dropped by 1.2%, marking a year-to-date downturn [3]. - The Nasdaq Composite Index decreased by 1.6%, continuing its most severe decline since April of the previous year [4]. Group 2: Sector Performance - Technology stocks and speculative bets on Wall Street experienced renewed declines, with the information technology sector of the S&P 500 falling by 1.7% [4]. - Software stocks saw significant drops, with Microsoft down 5% and Salesforce down 4.7% [4]. - The consumer discretionary sector faced severe losses, with DoorDash down 6.1% and both Lululemon and Ralph Lauren down over 4% [3]. Group 3: Individual Company Performance - Estée Lauder's stock plummeted by 19%, the largest decline among S&P 500 constituents, due to anticipated profit reductions of about $100 million related to tariffs [5]. - Cummins, an engine manufacturer, saw its stock drop by 11%, marking its largest single-day percentage decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic [5]. - McKesson, a diversified healthcare services company, reported strong earnings, leading to a 17% increase in its stock price, the highest gain in the S&P 500 index [5]. Group 4: Commodity and Cryptocurrency Performance - Bitcoin fell by 13%, contributing to a 19% drop in the stock price of cryptocurrency firm Coinbase, marking its 13th consecutive day of decline [4]. - Silver prices decreased by 9.1% [4].

Core Viewpoint - The panic in tech stocks is primarily due to a misunderstanding of AI models like Claude and ChatGPT, leading to significant undervaluation of certain stocks [1] Group 1 - The current market situation has resulted in very cheap stocks within the tech sector [1]

Group 1 - The CEOs of major tech companies dismiss concerns that AI will erode the competitive moat of traditional software companies, despite significant stock declines in recent months [1] - Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang argues that the idea of the tools industry declining due to AI is illogical, emphasizing that both humans and robots will continue to use existing tools rather than reinvent them [1] - Major enterprise software stocks like Palantir and Oracle have seen declines of approximately 12% over the past three trading days, with other companies like Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Microsoft also experiencing significant drops [1] Group 2 - Investors are worried that SaaS companies' clients may develop internal software solutions using AI tools from providers like Anthropic, reducing reliance on established vendors like Salesforce [2] - Concerns are heightened by the release of Anthropic's digital assistant Claude Cowork, which automates tasks for legal, sales, and marketing teams [2] - Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Arm CEO Rene Haas echo Huang's sentiments, suggesting that the fears surrounding software stocks are unfounded [2] Group 3 - Pichai notes that Google's software clients, including Salesforce, Intuit, and ServiceNow, are integrating Gemini into their workflows to enhance their products [3] - Haas describes the fear driving the software stock sell-off as a "mini-hysteria," with analysts agreeing that the strict requirements for data governance, security, and compliance present significant challenges for new entrants and companies developing in-house solutions [4] - Analysts believe it is too early to determine which companies will emerge as winners or losers, as enterprises are still in the early stages of adopting AI tools [4] Group 4 - Leading software companies are defending their competitive positions in an increasingly AI-driven market, with ServiceNow's CEO stating that speculation about AI consuming software companies is unfounded [5] - The CEO emphasizes that AI will not replace software companies but rather relies on them [5]

Core Viewpoint - The release of new AI tools by Anthropic has raised concerns in the software sector, leading to a sell-off in software-as-a-service and data provider stocks [1][2]. Group 1: Market Reaction - The S&P 500 Software & Services Index, which includes 140 companies, fell over 4% on Thursday, marking an eight-session losing streak and a year-to-date decline of approximately 20% [2]. - Shares of major companies such as Thomson Reuters, Salesforce, and LegalZoom experienced significant declines during the sell-off, which also affected Asian IT firms like Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys [3]. Group 2: AI Tools Impact - Anthropic's new AI tools are designed to manage complex professional workflows, potentially undermining traditional software business models across various functions, including legal and technology research, customer relationship management, and analytics [2]. - There is a division among analysts and tech executives regarding the long-term impact of these AI tools on the software and data provider industries [3].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the rapid evolution of marketing intelligence agents, which are transforming from auxiliary tools to autonomous decision-making systems in marketing, driven by advancements in AI technology [1][4][11]. Market Trends and Global Dynamics - Three major changes are identified: accelerated changes in platform advertising environments, rising privacy requirements, and increased digital marketing investments by companies [2]. Emergence of Global Marketing Intelligence Agents - The application of computer technology in marketing is undergoing a profound transformation, evolving from data analysis and decision support to full-chain marketing automation systems [4][11]. Challenges for Chinese Enterprises in Overseas Marketing - Chinese companies face significant challenges in overseas marketing, including cultural differences, complex channels, privacy and compliance issues, and cross-border payment difficulties [6]. Opportunities for Chinese Enterprises in Overseas Marketing - Marketing intelligence agents provide crucial support in content creation, compliance review, and localization for Chinese enterprises venturing abroad, leveraging the rapid iteration of open-source large language models [8]. Definition of Marketing Intelligence Agents - Marketing intelligence agents are defined as products based on generative AI or machine learning algorithms that can autonomously or semi-autonomously execute marketing-related tasks, assisting or replacing human marketing efforts [9]. Transition from Marketing Tools to Autonomous Agents - The development of marketing technology is transitioning from "tools" to "agents," with these agents now capable of real-time optimization across multiple channels [11][13]. Key Capabilities of Marketing Intelligence Agents - The four core capability areas of marketing intelligence agents include market insights, content generation, campaign optimization, and evaluation report generation, enabling full-chain automated marketing and continuous optimization [15]. Future Technology Trends - The collaboration of multiple agents forms a closed-loop system, combining creative, deployment, and analytical agents to achieve a cycle of creative generation, advertising deployment, data feedback, and strategy adjustment [17]. Challenges in AI + SaaS Models - The monetization of AI within SaaS models faces challenges, with companies adopting a consistent commercial approach but maintaining conservative expectations regarding AI's impact on financial reports [19]. Global and Chinese AI Marketing Market Environment - The AI + marketing market is rapidly evolving, driven by technological innovation, regulatory policies, and changes in business models, with both international and Chinese markets transitioning from "tool-based" to "intelligent" approaches [22]. Commercial Model Analysis of Marketing Intelligence Agents - The commercial model of marketing intelligence agents is evolving from a "single software subscription" to a "multi-dimensional revenue system," encompassing SaaS subscriptions, advertising revenue sharing, and value-added services [31]. Market Size and Forecast for China's Intelligent Marketing Agents - The market for intelligent marketing agents in China is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2030, driven by the integration of AI technologies and the digital transformation of the advertising industry [34]. Digital Marketing Penetration in China - China's digital economy is growing rapidly, with a growth rate of 7.39%, and the digital marketing sector is entering a phase of accelerated penetration due to advancements in AI technologies [36]. Policy Framework for AI + Marketing in China - China has established a multi-layered policy framework to support and regulate the integration of AI and marketing, covering strategic guidance, technological research, industry applications, and compliance [38][41]. Global Opportunities for Chinese Enterprises - Chinese marketing intelligence products have a global opportunity to challenge existing giants by offering next-generation, AI-native automated infrastructure, leveraging unique business and talent structures [45][48].

Market Overview - Global markets experienced a significant downturn, with major indices in the US suffering substantial losses. The Dow Jones dropped approximately 600 points, while the Nasdaq fell nearly 2% [1][2]. Stock Performance - Major technology stocks faced considerable declines, including Qualcomm (-7.58%), Oracle (-4.55%), Google (-4.51%), Amazon (-4.38%), and Tesla (-3.66%) [3]. - Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw its stock decrease by 4% following its announcement of expected capital expenditures related to artificial intelligence, which could reach up to $185 billion by 2026 [7][8]. Commodities and Cryptocurrencies - Precious metals experienced sharp declines, with silver prices plummeting over 16% [3]. - Oil prices also fell significantly during this period [4]. - Bitcoin dropped below the $70,000 mark, settling at $67,000, indicating a loss of interest from traditional investors and a growing pessimism regarding cryptocurrencies [5]. Economic Indicators - Concerns about the labor market intensified, with US employers announcing 108,435 layoffs in January, the highest number for that month since the global financial crisis [8]. - Initial jobless claims for the week ending January 31 exceeded expectations, further contributing to a negative market sentiment [8]. - The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job vacancies fell to their lowest level since September 2020 by December 2025 [9].

Core Viewpoint - The software sector in the US stock market has recently faced significant sell-offs due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), but Wedbush believes the market is overreacting to these concerns, labeling the situation as an exaggerated "doomsday scenario" for the software industry [1][2] Group 1: Market Sentiment and Analysis - The IGV index, which measures software industry performance, has dropped approximately 18% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 index has remained relatively stable, indicating a market pricing in worst-case scenarios for the software sector [2] - Concerns about AI potentially disrupting traditional SaaS models have led to widespread investor panic, especially following the launch of AI tools by companies like Anthropic [3] - Approximately 80% of CIOs currently prioritize AI and machine learning in their IT budgets, raising fears that software budgets may be squeezed by AI investments [3] Group 2: Company-Specific Insights - Microsoft is maintained with a target price of $575, with expectations that its Azure cloud business and AI commercialization will accelerate, potentially marking a key turning point by 2026 [4] - Palantir is given a target price of $230, with its AI platform AIP showing strong demand in commercial and government sectors, particularly in critical applications [4] - Snowflake is assigned a target price of $270, as it is seen as a crucial intermediary for connecting enterprise data with external AI models, emphasizing the importance of data governance and security [4] - Salesforce is maintained with a target price of $375, with its high-quality enterprise data assets viewed as irreplaceable in the AI era [5] - CrowdStrike is given a target price of $600, with the belief that the rise of AI will enhance the importance of cybersecurity, positioning its AI-driven security operations platform as a leading solution [5] Group 3: Long-Term Investment Perspective - Despite the current negative sentiment surrounding the software sector, Wedbush suggests that this "software doomsday" scenario presents a unique opportunity for long-term investors to position themselves favorably [6]

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing sell-off in software stocks has caused significant anxiety among tech investors, leading them to pay premiums for hedging tools to protect against further declines in stock prices [1][3]. Group 1: Market Performance - Software stocks have experienced a continuous decline, with Goldman Sachs' software basket recording a drop for the seventh consecutive trading day, resulting in a year-to-date decline of 19% for 2026 [3]. - The broader tech sector has also been affected, with the Nasdaq 100 index down 1.4% year-to-date in 2026 [3]. - The implied volatility for the iShares expanded tech software sector ETF (IGV.US) has reached its highest point since the tariff turmoil in April of the previous year, driving up option premiums [3][11]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment - There is a clear aversion to software stocks among investors, as indicated by the soaring insurance costs for the Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 ETF (QQQ.US), which have reached their highest level since March 2020 [3][11]. - Despite signs that the sell-off may be overdone, the turbulence caused by AI applications makes it extremely difficult to predict a bottom for the sector [4]. Group 3: Company-Specific Concerns - Major companies such as Microsoft (MSFT.US), Oracle (ORCL.US), Salesforce (CRM.US), and Palantir (PLTR.US) have all seen their stock prices decline by double digits this year due to investor concerns about AI tools disrupting their businesses [7]. - Adobe's stock, which has dropped 20% this year, is viewed by some investors as a potential indicator of the broader industry's outlook [11]. - The software sector has seen a net selling trend, with a historical low net exposure of 4.2% compared to 7% at the beginning of 2026 and a peak of 17.7% [12]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The upcoming earnings report from Salesforce on February 26 is seen as a critical test for the industry, with the potential to either halt the current decline or not reverse the trend [13]. - There is a growing need to discern which companies will perform well and which may face existential threats due to AI advancements [15].

智通财经APP注意到，软件股持续不断的抛售潮已令科技投资者倍感焦躁，以至于他们开始支付溢价购买对冲工具，以防股价再次大幅下挫。 这种担忧不无道理。周三软件股再次暴跌，高盛软件一篮子股票录得连续第七个交易日下跌，使其2026年年内跌幅达到19%。这场溃败波及了更广泛的科技 板块指标，拖累纳斯达克100指数在2026年迄今下跌了1.4%。 数据显示，这种不确定性导致针对Invesco QQQ Trust Series1ETF(QQQ.US)下跌10%的保险成本(相对于看涨押注)飙升至2020年3月以来的最高水平。同时， iShares扩展科技软件板块ETF(IGV.US)的引伸波幅(隐含波动率)处于去年4月关税动荡以来的最高点，推高了期权溢价。 尽管有迹象表明抛售已过度，但AI应用给该行业带来的震荡非常剧烈，以至于预测底部已成为一项极其困难的任务。 iShares软件ETF隐含波动率飙升 "问题是到底会跌到多低?"财富管理公司FBB Capital Partners研究主管迈克尔.贝利表示，"投资者厌恶软件股，这一点显而易见。" 这对行业巨头来说意味着一场残酷的清算，尤其是微软(MSFT.US)、甲骨文(ORCL ...