3 Beaten Down AI-Linked Stock Worth Another Look

Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of rising capital expenditures and narratives of AI disruption on well-known AI-linked tech stocks, questioning whether they represent buying opportunities or value traps [1] ServiceNow - ServiceNow's share price has dropped 45%, leading investors to speculate that AI is negatively affecting its business, but financial results indicate otherwise [2] - In 4Q2025, ServiceNow's subscription revenue grew 21% YoY to US$3.5 billion, with net income increasing 4.4% to US$401 million, attributed to AI adoption [2] - The Annual Contract Value (ACV) of ServiceNow's generative AI suite, "Now Assist," more than doubled YoY, exceeding US$600 million, indicating strong growth rather than disruption [3] - ServiceNow's monthly active users increased by 25% YoY in 4Q2025, suggesting deeper integration within enterprises [3] - The company maintains a high renewal rate of 98%, reflecting customer loyalty and satisfaction with its platform [4] Microsoft - Microsoft experienced a share price decline due to concerns over cloud growth amid rising capital expenditures, with revenue increasing 17% YoY to US$81.3 billion in 2QFY2026 [5] - Net income surged nearly 60% to US$38.5 billion, while capital expenditures rose 66% to US$37.5 billion, outpacing Azure revenue growth of 39% [5] - Microsoft employs a Lifetime Value (LTV) portfolio strategy, focusing on core businesses with higher LTV rather than solely on Azure's rapid growth [6] - The company's long-term operating margin consistently outperforms its cloud provider peers, which is a positive indicator for investors [8] Amazon - Amazon's net sales reached US$213.4 billion in 4Q2025, a 14% YoY increase, with net income rising 6% to US$21.2 billion, driven by growth in AWS, advertising, and retail [9] - Free cash flow fell 71% to US$11.2 billion due to increased capital expenditures for AI investments, but the company is still monetizing its business effectively [10] - Amazon's AWS generated a quarterly growth of 24% YoY to US$35.6 billion, achieving an annualized run rate of US$142 billion, marking its fastest growth in 13 quarters [15] - The customer spending on Amazon Bedrock, its AI model suite, surged 60% quarter on quarter, indicating strong demand for its offerings [15]