Software Stocks Plunge Amid Market Concerns
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Software Stock Decline: In January 2026, the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF fell 16%, with major software companies like Microsoft, Palantir, and ServiceNow experiencing significant price drops, indicating market concerns about the future of the software sector.
- AI Disruption Fears: Investor anxiety over AI tools potentially replacing enterprise software has intensified, leading to decreased confidence in these companies, even as they continue to report solid growth figures and guidance.
- Valuation Pressures: ServiceNow's stock has plummeted 50% from its peak in late 2024, yet it still trades at a P/E ratio of 70, highlighting the valuation bubble in the software sector, while Palantir's price-to-sales ratio stands at 99 and P/E at 353.
- Investment Opportunities: Although short-term market fluctuations are unpredictable, high-quality software stocks like Microsoft, bolstered by its robust Azure cloud computing business, are viewed as attractive investments, currently down 23% from last year's peak.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MSFT?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MSFT
Wall Street analysts forecast MSFT stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MSFT is 631.36 USD with a low forecast of 500.00 USD and a high forecast of 678.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
34 Analyst Rating
32 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 433.500
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
Current: 433.500
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
About MSFT
Microsoft Corporation is a technology company that develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions. Its Productivity and Business Processes segment consists of products and services in its portfolio of productivity, communication, and information services, spanning a variety of devices and platforms. It comprises Microsoft 365 Commercial products and cloud services; Microsoft 365 Consumer products and cloud services; LinkedIn, and Dynamics products and cloud services. The Intelligent Cloud segment consists of its public, private, and hybrid server products and cloud services. It comprises server products and cloud services, including Azure, and enterprise and partner services, including Enterprise Support Services. Its More Personal Computing segment primarily comprises Windows and Devices, including Windows OEM licensing; Gaming, including Xbox hardware and Xbox content; Search and news advertising, comprising Bing and Copilot, Microsoft News, and Microsoft Edge.
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.
Microsoft's Earnings Report Triggers Stock Plunge
- AI Investment Returns: Microsoft has invested a total of $11 billion in OpenAI since 2019, now holding a 27% stake valued at $135 billion; however, despite strong performance in the AI sector, its stock has plummeted following the earnings report.
- Earnings Highlights: In its fiscal second quarter, Microsoft reported a 17% year-over-year revenue increase to $81.3 billion and a 21% rise in operating income to $38.3 billion, achieving an operating margin of 47%, driven by a 39% revenue growth in Azure.
- Market Reaction: Despite beating analyst expectations, investors reacted negatively to the cautious third-quarter revenue guidance of $80.65 billion to $81.75 billion, reflecting only a 15%-17% growth, which led to a significant stock sell-off.
- Future Outlook: Microsoft's remaining performance obligations (RPO) rose to $625 billion, indicating strong future demand; although facing challenges from slowing consumer business growth and declining capital expenditures, it still anticipates mid-to-high teens revenue growth in the coming quarters.
Continue Reading
Microsoft Shares Plunge 10.23% After Earnings Report
- Stock Decline: Microsoft (MSFT) closed at $433.50, down 9.99% on Thursday, primarily due to investor concerns over slowing cloud growth, leading to a significant drop in share price.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Trading volume reached 126.5 million shares, approximately 366% above the three-month average, indicating a strong market reaction to Microsoft's earnings report, despite the company exceeding Wall Street's expectations for sales and EPS in Q2.
- Capital Expenditure Spike: Microsoft's capital expenditures surged 89% year-over-year, raising concerns about ROI as its Intelligent Cloud unit saw a 29% growth in Q2, with the market focusing on the short-lived nature of many investments.
- Valuation Analysis: With a forward P/E ratio of 26, the significant stock sell-off appears extreme given the company's ongoing sales and EPS growth, as management noted that much of the capex was directed towards short-lived assets, prompting investors to seek higher returns.
Continue Reading