The rally follows upbeat earnings from Snowflake and Okta in the US, easing concerns that artificial intelligence could severely disrupt the software sector. Last week, the iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF climbed 8% and ended May with a 21% gain - its best monthly performance since October 2001.
The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (Ticker: IGV) is a popular fund that tracks software, cloud, and digital media companies primarily in North America.
Technolgy stocks had come under pressure over the past year amid the rise of AI-powered coding tools from companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which have fuelled fears of a 'SaaSpocalypse'. However, recent earnings suggest leading software firms are adapting to the AI era better than expected.
Snowflake emerged as one of the biggest winners last week, surging nearly 50% in four trading sessions after announcing a $6-billion cloud and chip partnership with Amazon and raising its guidance on growing demand for AI tools.
Okta also rallied 30% after reporting stronger-than-expected results, with management highlighting rising demand for identity security solutions as businesses increasingly deploy AI agents and strengthen defences against automated cyber threats.
What is SaaSpocalypse?
'SaaSpocalypse' is a term used by investors and technology analysts to describe fears that advances in generative AI could disrupt traditional Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies.
The concern is that AI-powered tools can now generate code, build applications, and automate tasks that previously required multiple software products.
This could reduce demand for some SaaS offerings, pressure pricing, and force software firms to rapidly adapt their business models.
Indian IT stocks: What investors need to know
The NIFTY IT index on Monday rallied as much as 1,104.15 points, or 3.79%, to hit the high of 30,184.30 points. All ten constituents of the index were trading in the green.
Among individual names, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shares were trading over 3% higher, while Infosys was up 4.38%. Coforge was up 5% at ₹1,495, and Persistent Systems was trading 5.55% higher at ₹5,483.
Tech Mahindra shares were trading 4.69% higher at ₹1,554.30 apiece on the NSE. Wipro was up over 1.3%, and HCL Technologies was trading 2.31% higher at ₹1,211 on the NSE.
What analysts at CLSA said
According to news reports, CLSA, in its latest report, has indicated that fears of a 'SaaSpocalypse' in the IT sector appear overdone, as AI is driving a shift in pricing models from seat-based to consumption-based rather than hurting demand.
The investment firm noted that the latest guidance and EPS trends across SaaS-linked companies remain strong.
It added that IT firms with deep SaaS partnerships continue to see healthy demand for product engineering and implementation work.
Among large caps, Wipro has the highest SaaS exposure, while Persistent Systems is CLSA's preferred mid-cap pick.
Overall, CLSA believes AI is reshaping monetisation but not disrupting underlying SaaS growth.
Disclaimer: This article is purely for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice. Please consult with a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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