智通财经网·2026-01-19 00:04Core Viewpoint - The software sector in the U.S. stock market is experiencing its worst start in years, with a 15% decline in software-as-a-service stocks tracked by Morgan Stanley, contrary to earlier expectations of a 11% drop by 2025 [1][4]. Group 1: Market Performance - The stock prices of major software companies like Intuit, Adobe, and Salesforce have seen significant declines, with Intuit dropping 16%, Adobe and Salesforce both falling over 11% [1]. - Despite the Nasdaq 100 index nearing historical highs, companies like ServiceNow have reached multi-year lows, indicating a disconnect between overall market performance and software stock valuations [5]. Group 2: AI Innovations and Concerns - Anthropic's launch of the Claude Cowork service has raised concerns about disruptive innovations in AI, which could further impact software manufacturers' growth prospects [4]. - The rapid development of AI tools has created unprecedented uncertainty regarding future growth, as highlighted by investment managers [4]. Group 3: Earnings and Valuation Trends - Earnings growth for software and service companies in the S&P 500 is expected to slow to 14% in 2026, down from an anticipated 19% in 2025, contrasting with more optimistic fundamentals in other tech sectors [6]. - The price-to-earnings ratio for Morgan Stanley's software company portfolio has dropped to 18 times expected earnings, a historical low compared to an average of over 55 times in the past decade [6][7]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Some analysts believe that the current low valuations of software stocks could lead to a rebound by 2026, driven by stable customer spending and the potential benefits of AI [7][8]. - There is a cautious optimism about the software sector's attractiveness, although it is not yet deemed a definitive buy opportunity [8].