Stocks to Consider Amid Software Market Decline: A Technical Analysis

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

MSTR-1.73%

APP-1.99%

MDB+6.08%

Source: Barron's

Updated: Jan 14 2026

0mins

Source: Barron's

Software Stocks Performance: In 2025, software stocks underperformed the market, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF only rising 5% compared to a nearly 50% surge in the VanEck Semiconductor ETF.
2026 Early Trends: Early indicators for 2026 show software stocks down 2% while semiconductors have increased by 9%, suggesting continued struggles for the software sector.

MSTR

$160.98+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on MSTR

Wall Street analysts forecast MSTR stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MSTR is 453.17 USD with a low forecast of 229.00 USD and a high forecast of 705.00 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.

14 Analyst Rating

12 Buy

2 Hold

0 Sell

Strong Buy

Current: 163.810

Low

229.00

Averages

453.17

High

705.00

Current: 163.810

Low

229.00

Averages

453.17

High

705.00

Mizuho

Dan Dolev

Outperform

downgrade

$484 -> $403

2026-01-16

Reason

Mizuho

Dan Dolev

Price Target

$484 -> $403

AI Analysis

2026-01-16

downgrade

Outperform

Reason

Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev lowered the firm's price target on Strategy to $403 from $484 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the financial technology, payments, crypto and IT services group as part of its 2026 outlook. The firm says fintech and payments enter 2026 "with major political, macro, and product catalysts." Rate caps may ultimately benefit networks and buy now pay later players, as credit-to-BNPL shifts drive incremental debit volume, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Clear Street

Buy

downgrade

$443 -> $268

2026-01-09

Reason

Clear Street

Price Target

$443 -> $268

2026-01-09

downgrade

Buy

Reason

Clear Street lowered the firm's price target on Strategy to $268 from $443 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm cites its new sum-of-the-parts valuation for the target cut. The drop reflects lower bitcoin prices and treasury yield assumptions, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Clear Street says Strategy remains a :differentiated and compelling" vehicle for leveraged bitcoin exposure on a per-share basis.

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Bernstein

Outperform

NULL

downgrade

$600 -> $450

2025-12-08

Reason

Bernstein

Price Target

$600 -> $450

2025-12-08

downgrade

Outperform

NULL

Reason

Bernstein lowered the firm's price target on Strategy to $450 from $600 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm remains convinced market concerns on Strategy are overstated, given its over-collateralized balance sheet and 21 months cash reserves. Bernstein believes Strategy is becoming close to a Bitcoin-reserved financial operating business, delivering fixed income yield and savings products for investors.

Mizuho

Outperform -> NULL

downgrade

$586 -> $484

2025-11-10

Reason

Mizuho

Price Target

$586 -> $484

2025-11-10

downgrade

Outperform -> NULL

Reason

Mizuho lowered the firm's price target on Strategy to $484 from $586 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm updated the company's model post the Q3 report.

About MSTR

Strategy Inc., formerly MicroStrategy Incorporated, is a bitcoin treasury and business intelligence company. The Company provides cloud-native, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered enterprise analytics software to thousands of global customers. The Company’s Strategy ONE platform provides access to AI-powered workflows, unlimited data sources, cloud-native technologies, and performance to speed up time from data to action. Strategy One delivers visualization, reporting, and embedded analytics capabilities across retail, banking, technology, manufacturing, insurance, consulting, healthcare, telecommunications, and the public sector. Its Strategy Mosaic is a universal intelligence layer that provides enterprises with consistent definitions and governance across data sources, regardless of where that data resides or which tools access it. The Strategy Mosaic offers data clarity and connection by eliminating trade-offs between flexibility, control, and speed.

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.