Future Outlook for Software Stocks in the AI Era
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy CRWD?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Cybersecurity Leader: CrowdStrike Holdings, a global leader in cybersecurity, utilizes its Falcon platform to analyze endpoint data with AI and machine learning, continuously improving its security capabilities; despite a recent stock drop due to an AI demonstration, its unique data advantage and reputation maintain its competitive edge in the industry.
- Importance of Data Infrastructure: Snowflake serves as a critical data storage and querying infrastructure for enterprises, with a recent quarterly revenue growth of 29% and a current price-to-sales ratio of 13, highlighting its significance as AI adoption increases, ensuring its central role in enterprise software moving forward.
- E-commerce Ecosystem Advantage: Shopify provides a comprehensive e-commerce solution for merchants, accounting for approximately 10% of global e-commerce sales; while facing AI competition, its convenience and integration discourage businesses from fragmenting operations, indicating substantial growth potential ahead.
- Seizing Investment Opportunities: Despite software stocks facing sell-offs due to AI impacts, the reasonable valuations of CrowdStrike and Snowflake, along with Shopify's robust growth, suggest that investors should seize the current dip as an opportunity for long-term holdings in these promising stocks.
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Analyst Views on CRWD
Wall Street analysts forecast CRWD stock price to rise
34 Analyst Rating
23 Buy
11 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 371.980
Low
353.00
Averages
559.71
High
640.00
Current: 371.980
Low
353.00
Averages
559.71
High
640.00
About CRWD
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is a global cybersecurity company that provides cloud-delivered protection of endpoints, cloud workloads, identity and data. Its Falcon platform is designed for cybersecurity consolidation, purpose-built to stop breaches. The platforms collect and integrate data from across the enterprise, including endpoints, cloud workloads, identities, and third-party sources. It offers 29 cloud modules on its Falcon platform via a software as a service (SaaS) subscription-based model that spans multiple large markets, including corporate endpoint and cloud workload security, managed security services, security and vulnerability management, information technology (IT) operations management, identity protection, next-generation security information and event management (SIEM) and log management, threat intelligence services, data protection, SaaS security posture management, automation and response (SOAR) and artificial intelligence powered workflow automation, and others.
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.
- Market Attention: CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is in the spotlight this week under Jim Cramer's investment plan, who noted that the stock 'shouldn't have been crushed,' indicating market expectations for its future performance.
- Earnings Forecast: CrowdStrike is set to report earnings after the close, and as a provider of cloud-based cybersecurity solutions, its CEO George Kurtz is renowned for combating cyber terrorism, underscoring the company's significance in the industry.
- Competitive Pressure: Despite CrowdStrike's strong performance in cybersecurity, its price-to-earnings multiple has been compressed due to competition from AI platforms like Anthropic, reflecting a market reassessment of its valuation that may impact investor confidence.
- Investment Outlook: While CrowdStrike is viewed as a potential investment, analysts believe that certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk, suggesting that investors should proceed with caution in their selections.
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- Retail Earnings: Target (TGT) is set to announce its fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, where despite a decline in store traffic, digital sales have helped mitigate some pressure, and investors will closely watch for any guidance commentary to assess the effectiveness of the company's turnaround efforts.
- Ross Exceeds Expectations: Ross (ROST) is expected to surpass revenue estimates, driven by consumers trading down and seeking discounts on recognizable brands, reflecting the economic environment's impact on retail behavior.
- Oil Price Volatility: Oil prices are moving sharply amid concerns over regional stability, with investors monitoring the potential impact on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global crude flows.
- Fed Officials Speak: Multiple Federal Reserve presidents will speak on Tuesday, with markets looking for signals regarding the path of interest rates, especially in light of recent geopolitical tensions and mixed economic data, as investors seek clarity on future rate policies.
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- Market Sentiment Improves: Late Monday afternoon, tech stocks broadly rose, reflecting investor optimism about the technology sector's outlook, which may drive increased trading activity going forward.
- Investor Focus: As tech stocks rise, market participants are beginning to reassess their portfolios, potentially leading to capital inflows into the tech sector, further boosting the stock performance of related companies.
- Sector Performance: The Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF showed strong performance, indicating market confidence in the profitability of tech companies, which may attract more investor attention to this sector.
- Future Outlook: If tech stocks continue to rise, it could stimulate a broader market recovery, with investors closely monitoring upcoming economic data and corporate earnings reports to assess the potential for sustained market growth.
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- Earnings Expectations: CrowdStrike anticipates Q4 revenue of $1.30 billion, a 22% increase from $1.06 billion last year, indicating strong growth despite an expected drop in earnings per share from $1.03 to $0.74, reflecting pressures from AI tools.
- Expert Insights: Jay Woods, Chief Market Strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, highlights that CrowdStrike's year-to-date stock decline is primarily due to AI disruption trades, urging investors to focus on annual recurring revenue trends to assess customer renewal and product value.
- Analyst Rating Change: Piper Sandler analyst Rob Owens upgraded CrowdStrike from Neutral to Overweight with a price target of $520, arguing that the market's AI concerns are an overreaction and emphasizing that recent acquisitions will enhance the company's competitive edge.
- Price Volatility Outlook: CrowdStrike shares rose 2.9% to $382.85 on Monday, despite a 15% year-to-date decline in 2026; analysts expect volatility post-earnings, with potential retests around the $420 downtrend area.
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- CrowdStrike Options Volume: As of now, CrowdStrike Holdings Inc (CRWD) options have reached a trading volume of 25,887 contracts, equivalent to approximately 2.6 million shares, representing a significant 53.7% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in the stock.
- High Strike Options Activity: Within CRWD, the $400 strike call option has been particularly active, with 1,316 contracts traded today, representing about 131,600 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations for future price increases.
- Eli Lilly Options Volume: Concurrently, Eli Lilly (LLY) options have shown a trading volume of 19,886 contracts, approximately 2.0 million shares, accounting for 52.5% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, highlighting the stock's market activity.
- High Strike Options Focus: For LLY, the $1100 strike call option has also been notably active, with 1,461 contracts traded today, representing around 146,100 shares, indicating optimistic sentiment among investors regarding the stock's future performance.
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- Market Volatility: The S&P 500 fell on Monday but briefly rebounded after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran, causing oil prices to spike; WTI crude prices, while off their highs, indicate a defensive market stance.
- CrowdStrike Upgrade: Piper Sandler upgraded CrowdStrike from hold to buy with a $520 price target, arguing that the nearly 19% year-to-date pullback is excessive, and sees AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, boosting market confidence.
- Nvidia Strategic Investments: Nvidia shares rose over 3% after being named a top pick by Morgan Stanley, with analysts noting that despite stagnant stock performance in the last two quarters, business has strengthened; the company announced $2 billion investments in both Coherent and Lumentum, highlighting its strategic focus in optics technology.
- Investor Recommendations: Jim Cramer advised investors without Nvidia positions to buy the stock, asserting that its current depressed price won't last long, even as Monday's gains still left shares lower year-to-date.
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