As of February 18, 2026, the Human Capital Management (HCM) software sector is grappling with a profound "Productivity Paradox." For decades, the industry flourished under the Per-Employee-Per-Month (PEPM) revenue model, where growth was inextricably linked to rising corporate headcounts. However, the rapid integration of Generative AI and autonomous agents is
Shares of e-commerce platform Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) jumped 8.5% in the afternoon session after its positive momentum continued as an analyst at Truist Securities upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy and raised the price target.
Shopify’s fourth quarter results exceeded Wall Street’s expectations for both revenue and profitability, but the market responded negatively to the report. Management attributed the quarter’s revenue growth to increased adoption of value-added merchant services and continued momentum in Shopify Payments. However, leadership acknowledged that elevated investment in AI-driven enhancements and expanding international infrastructure contributed to stable operating margins despite higher sales. President Harley Finkelstein noted the company’s focus on “enhancing functionality while maintaining the reliable services that our merchants expect,” underscoring a cautious approach to platform evolution.
It looked like Shopify's stock was headed for a great day when it reported earnings, only for the stock to give up all its gains and then some when management started talking on the conference call.
Large-cap stocks are known for their staying power and ability to weather market storms better than smaller competitors.
However, their sheer size makes it more challenging to maintain high growth rates as they’ve already captured significant portions of their markets.
Following a significant plunge in software valuations, Morgan Stanley sees a rare buy-the-dip opportunity in resilient leaders like Atlassian, Shopify, and Palo Alto Networks.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after investors continued to distinguish between the winners and losers in the artificial intelligence boom, leading to a broad sell-off.
Salesforce signed a deal to acquire Cimulate, an AI-powered product discovery startup. The acquisition strengthens Agentforce Commerce with better search and personalized shopping.
