Why software stocks are getting crushed as AI casts 'shadow of uncertainty' over sector

Core Viewpoint - Software stocks have experienced a significant decline, with an approximate 18% drop in the S&P 500 software sector over the last six months, contrasting with a 9% increase in the overall index [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Companies like SAP, Salesforce, and ServiceNow have seen substantial losses, with SAP down 30%, Salesforce down about 20%, and ServiceNow down approximately 40% [1] - The overall sentiment in the software sector is at a low point, primarily due to concerns surrounding AI's impact on traditional software business models [2] Group 2: Investor Concerns - Investors are worried that customers of software-as-a-service (SaaS) firms may develop in-house solutions using AI tools, reducing reliance on established providers like Salesforce [3] - There is also concern that AI is lowering barriers for new enterprise software startups, which could directly challenge established firms [4] Group 3: Industry Response - Established software companies are rapidly introducing agentic AI offerings to defend their market positions, but these platforms are still in early development stages [5] - Despite significant investments in agentic AI by SaaS companies, the adoption rate is slow, indicating a disconnect between corporate strategies and market realities [6] Group 4: Earnings Reports and CEO Insights - Following earnings reports, CEOs from Microsoft, ServiceNow, and SAP highlighted the benefits of AI for their companies, with ServiceNow's CEO stating that AI depends on enterprise software rather than replacing it [7] - Despite these positive assertions, the stock prices of these companies continued to decline, reflecting ongoing market skepticism [7]