Software Stocks Decline Amid AI Concerns, Investment Opportunities Arise
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SHOP?
Source: Fool
- Market Decline: The S&P North American Technology Software Index has fallen 30% since its record high in September, entering bear market territory primarily due to investor concerns that artificial intelligence could disrupt the software industry, raising doubts about the durability of current software products and business models.
- Nvidia CEO's Perspective: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes the market has misread AI's impact, stating that many software companies are under pressure due to fears of AI replacement, which he calls 'the most illogical thing in the world,' suggesting that the current market situation may present opportunities for patient investors.
- Shopify's Investment Potential: Analysts have set a median target price of $162.50 per share for Shopify, indicating a 55% upside from the current price of $105; despite a high P/E ratio of 75, earnings are projected to grow by 30% in 2026, with sales expected to increase by 26%, highlighting strong growth potential.
- AppLovin's Competitive Edge: AppLovin's median target price is $710 per share, suggesting a 92% upside from the current price of $370; with its Axon machine learning ad engine and Max mediation platform, AppLovin delivers higher ad spending returns than Meta and other platforms, showcasing a durable competitive advantage.
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Analyst Views on SHOP
Wall Street analysts forecast SHOP stock price to rise
31 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
13 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 118.520
Low
140.00
Averages
180.62
High
200.00
Current: 118.520
Low
140.00
Averages
180.62
High
200.00
About SHOP
Shopify Inc. (Shopify) is a Canada-based global commerce company. The Company provides essential Internet infrastructure for commerce, offering tools to start, grow, market and manage a retail business of any size. It provides platforms and services that are engineered and delivers a shopping experience for consumers online, in store and everywhere in between. Its software enables merchants to run their business across all of their sales channels, including Web and mobile storefronts, physical retail locations, social media storefronts, and marketplaces. The Company's Shopify platform provides merchants with a single view of their business across all of their sales channels and enables them to manage products and inventory, process orders and payments, fulfill and ship orders, build customer relationships, source products, leverage analytics and reporting, and access financing, all from one integrated back office. The Shopify's platform operates across 175 countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
E-commerce Market Growth Potential is Huge
- Increased Market Competition: MercadoLibre faces intensifying competition in its core Latin American market, and although its stock began declining before recent volatility, the company is enhancing revenue and customer engagement through expanded free shipping services, which is expected to strengthen its market position.
- Financial Services Expansion: MercadoLibre plans to expand credit and other financial services in countries like Mexico and Argentina, which may negatively impact short-term financial results but will help grow its ecosystem and unlock revenue opportunities in the long run.
- Shopify's Profitability Improvement: Shopify has turned profitable over the trailing 12 months and has gained market share in the U.S. e-commerce space, and while its forward P/E ratio of 82.6 raises concerns among investors, its robust platform and service library position it well for long-term competitiveness in the e-commerce wave.
- Attractive Investment: Despite a 24% decline in stock price this year, Shopify's shares remain attractive, especially when considering its widespread application among small and mid-sized businesses and the moat created by high switching costs.
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Nasdaq Enters Correction, Investors Eye Growth Stocks
- Market Correction Impact: The Nasdaq Composite recently fell over 10%, entering correction territory, leading many investors to avoid equities due to challenging macroeconomic conditions, resulting in a cautious market sentiment that requires careful navigation.
- MercadoLibre's Strategy: Despite increased competition in the Latin American market, MercadoLibre is enhancing user engagement through expanded free shipping and increased credit offerings, which may hurt margins in the short term but are expected to drive revenue growth and ecosystem expansion in the long run.
- Shopify's Profitability: Shopify has achieved profitability over the past 12 months and continues to grow its market share, with a high price-to-earnings ratio of 82.6; however, its diverse platform and extensive service library position it as a compelling long-term investment opportunity.
- Investment Opportunity Analysis: Amid the Nasdaq's correction, MercadoLibre and Shopify are highlighted as growth stocks worth considering, as their long-term growth potential and market positions remain attractive despite facing short-term challenges.
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Coinbase Receives Conditional Approval to Operate as a Trust Bank
- Trust Bank Approval: Coinbase has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a trust bank, which will enable it to expand payment products under federal supervision, enhancing its competitive edge in the crypto payments sector.
- Regulatory Advantage: By being directly regulated by the OCC rather than state-level authorities, Coinbase will simplify its operations and reduce compliance costs, allowing the company to operate more effectively in the fast-evolving crypto industry.
- Payment Strategy Development: Coinbase has established a payment strategy centered around the stablecoin USDC, launching the Coinbase Payments product and collaborating with Shopify to position USDC as a mainstream global payment method, thereby increasing its market share.
- Clear Market Goals: CEO Brian Armstrong has set an ambitious goal to make USDC the number one stablecoin globally and aims to position Coinbase as the leading financial services app in the coming years, reflecting its aspirations in the crypto finance landscape.
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Analyst Blog Stock Updates from Zacks
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- Intuitive Surgical Strong Results: Intuitive Surgical exceeded revenue and EPS estimates in Q4, with 303 placements of the da Vinci 5 system, raising its installed base to 1,232, while global procedures grew 19% year-over-year, indicating robust market demand despite rising costs and budget constraints.
- Shopify's Continued Growth: Shopify shares gained 17.9% over the past year, although below the Internet Services sector's 72.6% growth, as new merchant-friendly tools and AI-driven solutions are helping merchants enhance customer engagement and support international expansion.
- Utah Medical Products Steady Performance: Utah Medical Products' shares rose 13.5% over the past year, with a market cap of $197.44 million and a strong cash position with no debt, providing flexibility for dividends and acquisitions, despite near-term risks from OEM/China exits impacting revenue replacement.
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Investment Opportunity Analysis for Nasdaq-100 Index
- Historical Return Potential: The Nasdaq-100 has achieved an average five-year return of 103% over the past two decades, with historical data suggesting that it could nearly double investors' money in the next five years, making it an attractive option for investors.
- AI-Driven Growth: The Invesco QQQ Trust is heavily invested in AI-related stocks, with top holdings including tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, which are expected to benefit from the rapid development of AI technologies, further enhancing market performance.
- Market Correction Timing: The Nasdaq Composite is currently in a market correction, down over 10% from its all-time high, and historical data indicates that such corrections have led to an average five-year return of 146%, presenting a favorable investment opportunity.
- Concentration Risk Warning: While the Invesco QQQ Trust has a reasonable expense ratio of 0.18%, its top ten holdings account for nearly 50% of its performance, prompting investors to carefully consider the concentration risk and potential price volatility.
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Nasdaq-100 Expected to Perform Well in Future
- Historical Returns: The Nasdaq-100 has achieved a 103% average five-year total return over the past two decades, indicating that investors could potentially double their money in the next five years, thus drawing increased investor interest.
- Market Correction Opportunity: The Nasdaq Composite fell into correction territory last month, which historically has been viewed as a good time to invest; after 13 market corrections, the Nasdaq-100's five-year total returns averaged 146%, suggesting a favorable outlook.
- AI-Driven Growth: The Invesco QQQ Trust is heavily invested in AI-related stocks, with over 80% of its assets concentrated in technology and consumer discretionary sectors, which are expected to perform well due to the rise of artificial intelligence, enhancing its investment appeal.
- Reasonable Expense Ratio: The Invesco QQQ Trust has an expense ratio of 0.18%, meaning shareholders pay $18 annually for every $10,000 invested; despite concentration risks, the current buying opportunity remains attractive for long-term investors.
See More
E-commerce Market Growth Potential is Huge
- Increased Market Competition: MercadoLibre faces intensifying competition in its core Latin American market, and although its stock began declining before recent volatility, the company is enhancing revenue and customer engagement through expanded free shipping services, which is expected to strengthen its market position.
- Financial Services Expansion: MercadoLibre plans to expand credit and other financial services in countries like Mexico and Argentina, which may negatively impact short-term financial results but will help grow its ecosystem and unlock revenue opportunities in the long run.
- Shopify's Profitability Improvement: Shopify has turned profitable over the trailing 12 months and has gained market share in the U.S. e-commerce space, and while its forward P/E ratio of 82.6 raises concerns among investors, its robust platform and service library position it well for long-term competitiveness in the e-commerce wave.
- Attractive Investment: Despite a 24% decline in stock price this year, Shopify's shares remain attractive, especially when considering its widespread application among small and mid-sized businesses and the moat created by high switching costs.
See More
Nasdaq Enters Correction, Investors Eye Growth Stocks
- Market Correction Impact: The Nasdaq Composite recently fell over 10%, entering correction territory, leading many investors to avoid equities due to challenging macroeconomic conditions, resulting in a cautious market sentiment that requires careful navigation.
- MercadoLibre's Strategy: Despite increased competition in the Latin American market, MercadoLibre is enhancing user engagement through expanded free shipping and increased credit offerings, which may hurt margins in the short term but are expected to drive revenue growth and ecosystem expansion in the long run.
- Shopify's Profitability: Shopify has achieved profitability over the past 12 months and continues to grow its market share, with a high price-to-earnings ratio of 82.6; however, its diverse platform and extensive service library position it as a compelling long-term investment opportunity.
- Investment Opportunity Analysis: Amid the Nasdaq's correction, MercadoLibre and Shopify are highlighted as growth stocks worth considering, as their long-term growth potential and market positions remain attractive despite facing short-term challenges.
See More
Coinbase Receives Conditional Approval to Operate as a Trust Bank
- Trust Bank Approval: Coinbase has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a trust bank, which will enable it to expand payment products under federal supervision, enhancing its competitive edge in the crypto payments sector.
- Regulatory Advantage: By being directly regulated by the OCC rather than state-level authorities, Coinbase will simplify its operations and reduce compliance costs, allowing the company to operate more effectively in the fast-evolving crypto industry.
- Payment Strategy Development: Coinbase has established a payment strategy centered around the stablecoin USDC, launching the Coinbase Payments product and collaborating with Shopify to position USDC as a mainstream global payment method, thereby increasing its market share.
- Clear Market Goals: CEO Brian Armstrong has set an ambitious goal to make USDC the number one stablecoin globally and aims to position Coinbase as the leading financial services app in the coming years, reflecting its aspirations in the crypto finance landscape.
See More
Analyst Blog Stock Updates from Zacks
- American Express Outperformance: American Express shares have risen 11.1% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Zacks Financial sector's -17.2%, driven by strong spending growth from Millennials and Gen Z, particularly in travel and dining, enhancing customer engagement and transaction volumes.
- Intuitive Surgical Strong Results: Intuitive Surgical exceeded revenue and EPS estimates in Q4, with 303 placements of the da Vinci 5 system, raising its installed base to 1,232, while global procedures grew 19% year-over-year, indicating robust market demand despite rising costs and budget constraints.
- Shopify's Continued Growth: Shopify shares gained 17.9% over the past year, although below the Internet Services sector's 72.6% growth, as new merchant-friendly tools and AI-driven solutions are helping merchants enhance customer engagement and support international expansion.
- Utah Medical Products Steady Performance: Utah Medical Products' shares rose 13.5% over the past year, with a market cap of $197.44 million and a strong cash position with no debt, providing flexibility for dividends and acquisitions, despite near-term risks from OEM/China exits impacting revenue replacement.
See More
Investment Opportunity Analysis for Nasdaq-100 Index
- Historical Return Potential: The Nasdaq-100 has achieved an average five-year return of 103% over the past two decades, with historical data suggesting that it could nearly double investors' money in the next five years, making it an attractive option for investors.
- AI-Driven Growth: The Invesco QQQ Trust is heavily invested in AI-related stocks, with top holdings including tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, which are expected to benefit from the rapid development of AI technologies, further enhancing market performance.
- Market Correction Timing: The Nasdaq Composite is currently in a market correction, down over 10% from its all-time high, and historical data indicates that such corrections have led to an average five-year return of 146%, presenting a favorable investment opportunity.
- Concentration Risk Warning: While the Invesco QQQ Trust has a reasonable expense ratio of 0.18%, its top ten holdings account for nearly 50% of its performance, prompting investors to carefully consider the concentration risk and potential price volatility.
See More
Nasdaq-100 Expected to Perform Well in Future
- Historical Returns: The Nasdaq-100 has achieved a 103% average five-year total return over the past two decades, indicating that investors could potentially double their money in the next five years, thus drawing increased investor interest.
- Market Correction Opportunity: The Nasdaq Composite fell into correction territory last month, which historically has been viewed as a good time to invest; after 13 market corrections, the Nasdaq-100's five-year total returns averaged 146%, suggesting a favorable outlook.
- AI-Driven Growth: The Invesco QQQ Trust is heavily invested in AI-related stocks, with over 80% of its assets concentrated in technology and consumer discretionary sectors, which are expected to perform well due to the rise of artificial intelligence, enhancing its investment appeal.
- Reasonable Expense Ratio: The Invesco QQQ Trust has an expense ratio of 0.18%, meaning shareholders pay $18 annually for every $10,000 invested; despite concentration risks, the current buying opportunity remains attractive for long-term investors.
See More
