Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-01-19 00:23Core Viewpoint - The release of Claude Code has reignited concerns about the disruption of the software industry by AI, leading to a significant decline in U.S. software stocks, marking one of the worst starts to the year in recent history [1][5]. Group 1: Market Performance - Since the beginning of the year, a basket of SaaS stocks tracked by Morgan Stanley has dropped by 15%, following an 11% decline in 2025, marking the worst opening performance since 2022 [1]. - Software stocks are currently trading at a record low valuation of 18 times expected earnings for the next 12 months, significantly below the past decade's average of over 55 times [1]. - Companies like ServiceNow Inc. have seen their stock prices fall to multi-year lows, while Intuit Inc. experienced a 16% drop, the largest weekly decline since 2022 [2]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment - Many buy-side institutions believe there is "no reason to hold" software stocks amid the disruptive uncertainty brought by AI, with no visible catalysts for valuation recovery in the short term [4][6]. - The release of the "Claude Cowork" service by Anthropic has intensified fears among investors regarding the future growth prospects of software companies [5][6]. Group 3: AI Integration Challenges - Most software manufacturers have not demonstrated significant appeal in their AI products, with Salesforce and Adobe struggling to show revenue impact from their AI initiatives [7]. - Existing software companies need to exhibit accelerated growth to drive stock price rebounds, which appears unlikely in the short term [7]. - In contrast, other tech sectors, particularly semiconductor companies, are expected to see substantial profit growth, with projections of nearly 45% profit growth in 2025 and 59% in 2026 [7][8]. Group 4: Valuation Discrepancies - Despite low valuations, there remains a divide in market sentiment regarding the future of software stocks, with some analysts optimistic about a rebound by 2026 due to stable customer spending and attractive valuations [8]. - Barclays and Goldman Sachs predict that rising AI adoption will expand the total addressable market for software companies, potentially benefiting them in the long run [8]. - Wealthspire's chief market strategist notes that while the sector is not yet a clear buy opportunity, it is approaching a more attractive point for investment [9].