Yahoo Finance·2026-03-12 21:21Core Viewpoint - The fear that AI will completely disrupt the business models of many software companies may be overstated, as established players have advantages that new entrants lack [1][9]. Industry Overview - The recent sell-off in software stocks is attributed to concerns over generative AI's potential to disrupt established enterprise SaaS companies [2][3]. - The market is beginning to recognize that new AI rivals could significantly impact sales for established companies, leading to a decline in stock prices [3]. Company Analysis - Harris | Oakmark analysts believe that the market has overvalued many SaaS stocks, particularly due to the impact of stock-based compensation and unrealistic expectations of linear revenue growth [4]. - Salesforce and SAP are highlighted as entrenched players in their customers' operations, utilizing a land-and-expand strategy to enhance customer value over time [13]. - SAP reported a 25% growth in its cloud backlog last year, although concerns about AI displacing its products persist [14]. - Salesforce's Agentforce platform has seen a 169% year-over-year increase in sales, reaching $800 million, showcasing its effective use of AI to enhance its ecosystem [15]. Investment Opportunities - The indiscriminate sell-off in software stocks has created attractive investment opportunities, particularly in companies like Microsoft and ServiceNow [12][18]. - Microsoft's enterprise software segment continues to grow at high-teens percentage rates, bolstered by the integration of its Copilot AI feature, which has 15 million paid subscribers [16]. - ServiceNow is experiencing strong momentum with its Now Assist feature, projecting its annual contract value to reach $1 billion by the end of 2026 [17]. - The forward P/E ratios of these companies range from 15 (Salesforce) to 29 (ServiceNow), reflecting their growth potential while accounting for AI-related risks [18].