Stifel Sees Long-Term Value in ServiceNow (NOW) Despite Near-Term Headwinds

Group 1 - ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is considered one of the best debt-free stocks to buy, although there is a potential near-term headwind identified by Stifel analyst Brad Reback [1] - A reduction in U.S. federal spending has been noted, with a Treasury Department contract showing a cut of approximately $15 million due to the government's Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) [2] - The DRP allows federal employees to take fully paid leave if they resign by September 30, 2025, and is beginning to impact software seat counts across federal agencies [3] Group 2 - Estimates suggest that around 200,000 non-Department of Defense employees have opted into the DRP, which may lead to further contract adjustments and create headwinds for growth in seat-based enterprise software models through 2026 [4] - Reback reaffirmed a Buy rating for ServiceNow and adjusted the price target from $230 to $200, indicating over 40% upside potential [5] - Goldman Sachs also initiated coverage of ServiceNow with a Buy rating and a price target of $205 [5] Group 3 - ServiceNow provides cloud-based platforms for digital workflows, enabling organizations to automate and optimize business processes across various areas including IT service management and customer service [6]