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‘Money's moving out of tech’: Wall Street weighs stock market winners amid the AI scare trade
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 16:00
Core Viewpoint - Investors are shifting their focus from technology and large-cap stocks to sectors benefiting from AI-driven investments, leading to a rotation in market dynamics [1][2]. Sector Performance - Technology (XLK) and Consumer Discretionary (XLY) sectors remain negative year-to-date, while Financials (XLF) also show a decline [1]. - Energy stocks (XLE) have increased by 22% since the beginning of the year, driven by rising oil prices and demand, with Chevron (CVX) and ExxonMobil (XOM) shares up 20% and 22% respectively [2]. - Materials (XLB) and Industrial stocks (XLI) have risen by 15% and 14% respectively, attributed to AI infrastructure buildouts and reshoring trends [3]. - Defensive sectors like Consumer Staples (XLP) are gaining traction, with Walmart (WMT) reaching an all-time high [3]. Market Dynamics - The current market rotation is intensified by volatility, with portfolio rebalancing occurring as investors move from overvalued sectors to more stable areas [4]. - The Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) has seen a decline of 23% year-to-date due to fears surrounding AI's impact on traditional enterprise software roles [5]. - Cybersecurity firms have also faced declines, with shares of CrowdStrike (CRWD), Zscaler (ZS), and Cloudflare (NET) dropping significantly following new AI security tool announcements [6]. Economic Outlook - Profit growth and potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are expected to support a broadening stock market, with predictions of two to three rate cuts in 2026 [7]. - UBS strategists anticipate healthy profit growth across sectors, supported by a resilient US economy and ongoing easing cycles [7].
Adobe (ADBE) Stock Has Been Beaten Up But the Smart Money Remains Resilient
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 15:30
Adobe (ADBE) hasn’t exactly impressed investors with its performance in the new year, with ADBE stock dubiously earning the label of 100% Strong Sell by the Barchart Technical Opinion indicator. Such ignominy isn’t terribly surprising, with the security losing over 26% of value on a year-to-date basis. Over the past 52 weeks, it’s down nearly 42%. Adding to the pressure, a recent read from the options flow screener will likely not soothe frayed nerves. A representation focused purely on big block transac ...
Phillip Securities Cuts Palantir (PLTR) Target, Reiterates Buy Rating Again
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 15:24
Group 1 - Phillip Securities analyst Paul Chew lowered the price target on Palantir Technologies Inc. to $190 while reiterating a Buy rating, down from an initial target of $208 set on January 22, 2026 [1] - Freedom Capital upgraded Palantir's rating from Sell to Buy, setting a new price target of $170, following a strong fourth quarter earnings report [2] - Palantir reported a 70% year-over-year revenue growth in its fourth quarter earnings, with an EPS of $0.25, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.23 [2][3] Group 2 - Palantir Technologies Inc. specializes in big data analytics and AI-driven operating systems, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Colorado [3]
How Apple's Lazy AI Strategy Could Crush the Competition
247Wallst· 2026-02-22 14:52
Core Viewpoint - Apple's conservative AI strategy, characterized by limited capital expenditure and reliance on partnerships, may position it advantageously against competitors who are heavily investing in AI infrastructure [1]. Group 1: Capital Expenditure and Investment Strategy - Apple plans to allocate $14 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for 2026, significantly lower than the combined $700 billion planned by Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet [1]. - Competitors are projected to increase their capex from $500 billion in 2025 to over $700 billion in 2026, with Amazon planning $200 billion, Alphabet between $175 billion to $185 billion, Meta between $115 billion to $135 billion, and Microsoft around $145 billion [1]. Group 2: AI Strategy and Partnerships - Apple has opted to outsource its AI development, partnering with companies like Alphabet's Gemini instead of building proprietary AI infrastructure [1]. - The company initially collaborated with OpenAI to enhance Siri but later shifted to using Alphabet's technology for better performance while maintaining privacy standards [1]. Group 3: Financial Position and Shareholder Returns - With over $130 billion in cash reserves, Apple maintains flexibility in its financial strategy, allowing it to avoid unnecessary spending during the AI boom [1]. - In fiscal 2025, Apple returned $106.1 billion to shareholders and reduced its share count by nearly a third over the past decade, demonstrating a strong commitment to shareholder value [1]. Group 4: Risks of Heavy Investment - Heavy investments in AI infrastructure by competitors may lead to rapid depreciation of assets, as seen with GPUs losing half their value in 18 months [1]. - Apple's asset-light approach, which includes renting cloud capacity and using its M-series chips for on-device processing, helps avoid the pitfalls of high fixed costs associated with heavy infrastructure investments [1]. Group 5: Long-term Strategy and Market Position - Apple's strategy hinges on the belief that AI models will become interchangeable commodities, reducing the competitive advantage of owning proprietary infrastructure [1]. - By focusing on user experience and integrating external AI models, Apple aims to achieve higher margins while avoiding the capex arms race [1].
Could Buying Microsoft Stock Today Set You Up for Life?
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-22 14:45
Group 1 - Microsoft has experienced a significant stock decline of over 25% from its October highs in 2026, with most of this drop occurring in the same year [1] - The current market cap of Microsoft is $2.9 trillion, and its stock is trading at $397.24, which is considered a buying opportunity [7][8] - Microsoft has shown strong performance in its core software business and artificial intelligence, with Azure experiencing rapid growth and a substantial backlog of workloads [8] Group 2 - In Q2 of fiscal year 2026, Microsoft reported a 17% year-over-year revenue growth, indicating strong operational performance despite the stock decline [9] - The company's forward earnings valuation is at 24 times, the lowest in nearly three years, making it an attractive investment compared to the S&P 500's 21.9 times [9] - Investing in Microsoft now could potentially yield mid-teens returns, accelerating wealth accumulation for investors [11]
ROSEN, RECOGNIZED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Oracle Corporation Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - ORCL
TMX Newsfile· 2026-02-22 14:41
Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Oracle Corporation for alleged misleading statements regarding its AI infrastructure strategy and its impact on capital expenditures and financial health during the Class Period from June 12, 2025, to December 16, 2025 [1][5]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit claims that Oracle's AI infrastructure strategy would lead to significant increases in capital expenditures without corresponding near-term revenue growth [5]. - It alleges that the increased spending poses risks to Oracle's debt, credit rating, free cash flow, and project funding capabilities [5]. - The lawsuit asserts that the defendants' statements about Oracle's business and prospects were materially false and misleading, resulting in investor damages when the truth was revealed [5]. Group 2: Participation Information - Investors who purchased Oracle common stock during the Class Period may be eligible for compensation without any out-of-pocket fees through a contingency fee arrangement [2]. - To join the class action, interested parties can visit the provided link or contact the law firm directly for more information [3][6]. - A lead plaintiff must file a motion with the court by April 6, 2026, to represent other class members in the litigation [1][3]. Group 3: Law Firm Credentials - The Rosen Law Firm specializes in securities class actions and has a strong track record, having achieved significant settlements for investors, including over $438 million in 2019 [4]. - The firm has been recognized for its success in securities class action settlements, ranking No. 1 in 2017 and consistently in the top 4 since 2013 [4].
PowerFleet (AIOT) Poised to Deliver Strong Returns After an Impressive Quarter
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 14:39
Core Viewpoint - PowerFleet Incorporated (NASDAQ:AIOT) is recognized as one of the small-cap software infrastructure stocks with significant upside potential, reporting strong financial results and positive market sentiment [1][4]. Financial Performance - For the third quarter, PowerFleet reported total revenue of $113.5 million, exceeding consensus estimates of $111.69 million [1][3]. - The company achieved an 11% year-over-year increase in high-value services, which now constitutes 80% of total revenue [3]. Market Sentiment and Ratings - Northland Securities assigned an Outperform rating to PowerFleet with a target price of $10, indicating a potential upside of nearly 164% [3][4]. - The firm has labeled PowerFleet as a "Top Pick for 2026," citing the successful execution of its post-combination strategy and positive developments in new logo acquisitions and AI Video growth [4]. Company Overview - PowerFleet is a SaaS provider specializing in artificial intelligence-of-things (AIoT), offering the Unity platform that integrates AIoT devices and business systems [5]. - The company provides various SaaS-based unity modules, including solutions for vehicles, video, and in-warehouse IoT [5].
Federal Segment Strength Fuels Optimism Towards Appian (APPN)
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 14:39
Core Viewpoint - Appian Corporation (NASDAQ:APPN) is recognized as a small-cap software infrastructure stock with significant upside potential, with analysts projecting substantial price increases based on strong performance and growth prospects in the federal segment [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Citi analyst Steve Enders maintained a Buy rating on Appian Corporation, forecasting a target price of $48, indicating an upside potential of over 108% [1]. - Morgan Stanley analyst Sanjit Singh upgraded Appian from Equal Weight to Overweight, with a price target of $45, suggesting an upside potential of more than 95% [2]. Group 2: Company Performance and Growth Prospects - Appian's fourth quarter results and guidance for 2026 reflect continued strength, particularly in the federal segment, presenting a compelling risk/reward opportunity for investors [1]. - Singh anticipates mid-teens growth driven by customer adoption of AI-linked subscription tiers and improved sales productivity [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - Appian Corporation is a global cloud-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provider, enabling enterprises to design and automate business processes through an integrated automation platform that includes features like AI, data fabric, and process automation & mining [3].
Favorable Application SaaS Outlook Bodes Well for Five9 (FIVN)
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 14:39
Group 1 - Five9 Incorporated (NASDAQ:FIVN) is identified as one of the small-cap software infrastructure stocks with significant upside potential, with a current upside of more than 59% despite a price target reduction from $30 to $26 by Morgan Stanley [1][3] - Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow also reduced his target price on Five9 from $29 to $25 while maintaining an Overweight rating, indicating an upside potential of over 53% based on steady macro and IT spending [4] - The company operates as a contact center as a service (CCaaS) provider, offering a cloud-based CX platform that includes applications for customer service, sales, and marketing, featuring services like virtual assistance and AI insights [5] Group 2 - Application SaaS companies, including Five9, have shown weaker returns in 2025 compared to the broader software segment, although AI-related risks may be less severe than expected, leading to a more favorable outlook for the segment [3] - The software sector is currently out of favor, with depressed valuations and limited signs of increased software spending, prompting analysts to be cautious and selective in their outlook [4]
Progress Software (PRGS) Remains Resilient Against AI-Linked Threats
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-22 14:38
Core Viewpoint - Progress Software (NASDAQ:PRGS) is identified as one of the small-cap software infrastructure stocks with significant upside potential, with analysts maintaining positive ratings despite some price target adjustments [1][4]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Citi analyst Fatima Boolani raised the price target for Progress Software from $54 to $60, maintaining a Buy rating, indicating over 71% upside potential [1][3]. - DA Davidson analyst Lucky Schreiner reduced the price target from $75 to $70 but still maintains a Buy rating, suggesting an impressive upside of almost 100% [4]. Company Performance and Market Position - The company reported strong earnings and cash flows in its fourth-quarter announcement, which contributed to the positive outlook from analysts [3]. - A sales check conducted by Schreiner revealed that customers view Progress Software's products as mission-critical, showing limited interest in alternatives despite concerns about AI disruption [5]. Product Portfolio and Services - Progress Software offers a range of products for developing and managing AI-enabled applications, including OpenEdge, Chef, Agentic RAG, MOVEit, Automate MFT, and Sitefinity, catering to project management, software development, and training needs [6]. Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - Despite trading at historically low valuation multiples, analysts see potential M&A opportunities as positive catalysts for the stock [5].