软件股步入“残酷清算期”！2万亿美元市值蒸发，对冲成本飙升至2020年来高点36/64

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing sell-off in software stocks has caused significant anxiety among tech investors, leading them to pay premiums for hedging tools to protect against further declines in stock prices [1][3]. Group 1: Market Performance - Software stocks have experienced a continuous decline, with Goldman Sachs' software basket recording a drop for the seventh consecutive trading day, resulting in a year-to-date decline of 19% for 2026 [3]. - The broader tech sector has also been affected, with the Nasdaq 100 index down 1.4% year-to-date in 2026 [3]. - The implied volatility for the iShares expanded tech software sector ETF (IGV.US) has reached its highest point since the tariff turmoil in April of the previous year, driving up option premiums [3][11]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment - There is a clear aversion to software stocks among investors, as indicated by the soaring insurance costs for the Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 ETF (QQQ.US), which have reached their highest level since March 2020 [3][11]. - Despite signs that the sell-off may be overdone, the turbulence caused by AI applications makes it extremely difficult to predict a bottom for the sector [4]. Group 3: Company-Specific Concerns - Major companies such as Microsoft (MSFT.US), Oracle (ORCL.US), Salesforce (CRM.US), and Palantir (PLTR.US) have all seen their stock prices decline by double digits this year due to investor concerns about AI tools disrupting their businesses [7]. - Adobe's stock, which has dropped 20% this year, is viewed by some investors as a potential indicator of the broader industry's outlook [11]. - The software sector has seen a net selling trend, with a historical low net exposure of 4.2% compared to 7% at the beginning of 2026 and a peak of 17.7% [12]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The upcoming earnings report from Salesforce on February 26 is seen as a critical test for the industry, with the potential to either halt the current decline or not reverse the trend [13]. - There is a growing need to discern which companies will perform well and which may face existential threats due to AI advancements [15].