Datadog, Inc.

🇺🇸NASDAQ Global Select
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Bullish +65

NOW, WDAY, ADBE, CRM: Software Stocks On The Rebound As OpenAI Threat ...

📈 ServiceNow emerged as a top S&P 500 gainer with its stock rising nearly 10%.

🚀 Workday and Datadog shares gained 9.2% and 8.5%, respectively, during the sector-wide rebound.

💻 Major software companies including Microsoft, Salesforce, Intuit, and Adobe all recorded sharp gains.

📉 Investors rotated out of chip stocks following Micron's blowout report and a 5.6% drop in the SOXX ETF.

🗞️ Reports suggest OpenAI may delay its IPO to next year due to financial challenges.

🤖 Software stocks have underperformed in 2026 amid fears that AI tools could replace specialized niche software tasks.

📊 The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) is down 16.5% year-to-date compared to a 7.4% gain for the S&P 500.

💰 Oracle shares closed 3% lower, reflecting market sensitivity to OpenAI's delayed IPO timeline.

🔮 Traders believe several software stocks are undervalued relative to their underlying fundamentals.

⚠️ U.S. inflation rose above 4% in May, keeping alive the possibility of a Fed rate hike.

Bullish Signals
  • ServiceNow, Workday, and Datadog posted double-digit percentage gains, with ServiceNow rising nearly 10%.
  • The sector rebound is supported by the view that many software stocks are undervalued relative to their fundamentals.
  • Microsoft and other major tech giants gained over 4%, indicating broad-based strength in the software space.
  • Reports of OpenAI delaying its IPO may alleviate competitive pressure on enterprise software providers.
Risk Factors
  • Software stocks have suffered significant underperformance in 2026 due to concerns that AI tools could displace niche software functions.
  • The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF is down 16.5% year-to-date, significantly lagging the S&P 500's 7.4% gain.
  • Rising U.S. inflation above 4% and potential Fed rate hikes create a challenging macroeconomic backdrop for growth stocks.
  • Oracle shares fell 3%, highlighting market sensitivity to OpenAI-related deal uncertainties.
Full Analysis
Software stocks experienced a sharp rebound on Friday as investors rotated capital away from overheated chip stocks and weighed reports that OpenAI may delay its initial public offering until next year. ServiceNow led the sector with nearly a 10% gain, while Workday and Datatog shares rose 9.2% and 8.5%, respectively. The rally included major players like Microsoft, Salesforce, Intuit, and Adobe, which all posted significant percentage gains in overnight trading. The market move was driven by profit-taking in the semiconductor sector following Micron's strong quarterly report and a broader decline in the iShares Semiconductor ETF. Simultaneously, concerns about OpenAI's potential financial challenges and its delayed IPO timeline reduced pressure on software companies that have faced underperformance due to fears of AI tools replacing niche software functions. Analysts and traders view the sector as undervalued relative to fundamentals, with some predicting a recovery in the coming weeks. While macroeconomic headwinds like rising U.S. inflation and potential Fed rate hikes persist, the specific rotation into SaaS stocks provided a clear catalyst for the day's performance across the industry.