iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS: IGV)

Últimas noticias sobre iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:IGV)

iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF

iShares North American Tech-Software ETF

Technology

Communication Services

Industrials

The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software Index (the Underlying Index), which measures the performance of U.S. - traded stocks from the software industry and select companies from the interactive home entertainment and interactive media and services sub - industries in the U.S. and Canada, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the Index Provider or SPDJI). The Underlying Index includes companies that are producers of client/ server applications, enterprise software, application software, home entertainment software, and media and services software. The Underlying Index may include large - , mid - or small - capitalization companies. As of March 31, 2024, a significant portion of the Underlying Index is represented by securities of companies in the technology industry or sector. The components of the Underlying Index are likely to change over time.

Adobe Inc

Salesforce.Com Inc

Oracle Corp.

Microsoft Corp

Intuit, Inc.

Servicenow Inc

Palo Alto Networks Inc.

Synopsys Inc.

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

Roper Technologies Inc.

Palantir Technologies Inc.

Crowdstrike Holdings Inc.class A

Microstrategy Inc

Equities

Large Cap

News

Contracts

Movers

ORCL

TRFK

Oracle introduce agentes de IA en su solución Cloud HCM, impulsando la automatización en RR.HH. Sus acciones suben un 1,01% en el premarket.

Oracle (ORCL) lanza nuevos agentes de IA y sus acciones suben

Tech

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund

Salesforce presenta Agentforce for Retail y Retail Cloud with Modern POS, herramientas IA para transformar la experiencia minorista.

Salesforce (CRM) lanza soluciones de IA para minoristas, pero sus acciones caen

FEPI

Salesforce comprará Own Company por 1900 millones de dólares, reforzando su enfoque en la seguridad y cumplimiento de datos.

Salesforce adquiere Own Company para fortalecer la seguridad de datos

Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) is in the news with its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45617449/salesforce-strikes-8-billion-acquisition-to-boost-ai-and-data-cloud-power">$8 billion buyout </a>of data management company Informatica (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFA#NYSE">INFA</a>), an ambitious foray into the AI and data integration business. But the tech behemoth isn&#8217;t only in the spotlight for the deal –investors are also eagerly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/05/45646698/salesforce-inc-ai-ambitions-vs-stock-realities-ahead-of-q1-earnings-reveal">awaiting its fiscal Q1 2026 earnings release</a>, due after the market close Wednesday. Between a fresh M&amp;A appetite and expanding AI roots, CRM-focused funds could be on the cusp of a data-driven rally.
ETFs In The Spotlight
The Informatica acquisition and the expected earnings release have implications for a number of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETFs that have big stakes in Salesforce</a>:
iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>): 7.4% weightage
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDN#NYSE">FDN</a>): 5.4% weightage
FT Vest Dow Jones Internet &amp; Target Income ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDND#BATS">FDND</a>): 5.4% weightage
These ETFs would stand to benefit if Salesforce&#8217;s quarterly earnings beat or meet forecasts and if the market perceives the Informatica acquisition as a strategic play in the growing AI space.
Can Salesforce Deliver?
Analysts are calling for Salesforce to post adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.55 on revenue of $9.75 billion, improving year over year from $2.44 EPS and $9.13 billion in revenue. Such a performance would demonstrate the company&#8217;s ongoing growth trend, but at a more tempered rate than what it experienced during its previous years of explosive expansion.
The earnings announcement is especially important since it will give us clues on how Salesforce&#8217;s recent strategic actions, such as acquiring Informatica, will affect its financial well-being and competitive standing in the AI-powered enterprise software industry.
Bottom Line
The dual emphasis by Salesforce on strategic acquisitions as well as strong earnings performance make it an important contributor to the AI and enterprise software industries. Both investors and ETF observers will be listening to the Q1 earnings announcement for signals about the direction of the company and the wider ramifications for tech-themed investment vehicles.
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Specialty ETFs

ETFs

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF

FDND

INFA

CRM-Powered ETFs In Focus As Salesforce Bets Big On AI With $8B Informatica Deal Ahead Of Q1 Results

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) announced an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45515224/red-hat-and-amd-strengthen-strategic-collaboration-expand-customer-choice-for-ai-and-virtualizatio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expanded partnership</a> with Red Hat Inc. Tuesday to boost artificial intelligence capabilities and modernize virtualization across hybrid cloud environments.
The collaboration integrates AMD&#8217;s high-performance computing hardware with Red Hat&#8217;s open-source platforms to support enterprise demand for scalable and cost-efficient AI solutions.
As part of the effort, AMD Instinct GPUs are now fully supported on Red Hat OpenShift AI, allowing developers to run both small and large language models on a single virtual machine. Recent tests using Microsoft Azure&#8217;s ND MI300X v5 instances showed improved efficiency and reduced infrastructure requirements.
Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization has also been validated for AMD EPYC CPUs to help organizations consolidate legacy virtual machines and container-based applications across on-premise, cloud, and hybrid environments. Supported systems include Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, and Lenovo ThinkSystem servers.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45476624/us-china-trade-truce-trumps-middle-east-deals-spark-wall-street-rally-this-week-in-markets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US-China Trade Truce, Trump&#8217;s Middle East Deals Spark Wall Street Rally: This Week In Markets</a>
Both companies emphasized that modernizing the current infrastructure can unlock the capacity needed for AI innovation at scale.
Recently, Advanced Micro Devices announced a $3 billion deal to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/guidance/25/05/45495637/amd-sells-off-a-5-billion-powerhouse-whats-the-catch-in-this-3-billion-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">sell</a> its U.S.-based data center infrastructure manufacturing business to Sanmina Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANM#NASDAQ">SANM</a>). The transaction includes $2.25 billion in cash and a $300 million premium, split equally between cash and equity. The deal also establishes a long-term strategic partnership, with AMD receiving Sanmina shares subject to a three-year lock-up.
AMD reached a 52-week high of $187.28 on July 9, 2024, and a 52-week low of $76.48 on April 8, 2025. The stock experienced a significant 39% decline from its peak in February to its trough in early April. Since then, it has rebounded over 30% from its April lows and is currently up approximately 5% year-to-date.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/05/45443777/best-amd-stock-rally-in-2-years-gets-a-buyback-boost" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best AMD Stock Rally In 2 Years Gets A Buyback Boost</a>
Related ETFs: Global X Artificial Intelligence &amp; Technology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIQ#NASDAQ">AIQ</a>), iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: AMD shares are trading lower by 1.29% at $113.26 on Tuesday&#8217;s last check.
Read Next: 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45503727/nvidias-key-differentiators-include-its-ability-to-expand-its-addressable-market-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia&#8217;s Key Differentiators Include Its Ability To Expand Its Addressable Market: Analyst</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

MSFT

SANM

AMD Expands Red Hat Partnership To Power Scalable AI And Hybrid Cloud

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), along with seQure, a cybersecurity firm and its partner, disclosed the availability of seQure&#8217;s Ground-Truth service on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/n45367248/oracle-and-entanglement-partner-to-deliver-advanced-security-to-governments-and-enterprises" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)</a>.
The company said that Ground-Truth is a cybersecurity and data observability service that helps automate the detection of threats and vulnerabilities and can reduce event alerts by 90%.
Previously an on-premises solution, Ground-Truth can now be deployed across Oracle&#8217;s various cloud offerings, including public, government, sovereign, and dedicated cloud regions.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/45357613" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Tariff De-Escalation Biggest Winners Include Tesla, Apple: &#8216;New Tech Highs Back On The Table Now For 2025&#8217;</a>
Integrating with Oracle&#8217;s security framework allows seQure to offer customers sophisticated, AI-powered threat detection while meeting data localization needs.
This enables operational flexibility in intricate environments, compliance with regulatory, security, and performance standards, and unlocks the complete advantages of cloud and sovereign AI capabilities.
Rand Waldron, vice president, Oracle said, &#8220;This partnership helps our combined customers identify unknown cyber threats and anomalies faster and more accurately. In addition, it enables customers to benefit from OCI&#8217;s built-in security, leading performance, and flexibility.&#8221;
Jason Turner, chairman and CEO Entanglement stated, &#8220;OCI&#8217;s&nbsp;high-performance infrastructure&nbsp;and scaling was essential for deploying this solution and enabling us to provide our customers with the benefits of automated scaling, robust security features, and predictable pricing.&#8221;
Last week, IBM disclosed a collaboration with&nbsp;Oracle to integrate IBM&#8217;s premier AI platform, Watsonx,&nbsp;with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45218573/ibms-ai-watsonx-integrates-with-oracle-cloud-to-boost-enterprise-productivity" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Pacer Funds Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRFK#NYSE">TRFK</a>) and iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: ORCL shares are up 0.70% at $158.32 at the last check on Tuesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45244190/microsoft-faces-fresh-revenue-hit-as-openai-plans-to-reduce-payouts-by-2030-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI To Slash Microsoft Revenue Share By 2030: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image by Mdisk via Shutterstock

Oracle Partners With seQure To Bolster Cybersecurity For Governments, Enterprises

TaskUs Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TASK#NASDAQ">TASK</a>) surged on Friday after announcing strong first-quarter results and a $16.50-per-share all-cash buyout by Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) and its co-founders.
The company has entered into an agreement to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45316012/taskus-inc-to-be-taken-private-by-co-founders-and-blackstone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acquired and taken private</a> in an all-cash deal led by an affiliate of Blackstone, alongside TaskUs co-founders Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir.
The transaction values each share at $16.50, reflecting a 26% premium over TaskUs&#8217; 30-day volume-weighted average price. The buyout group plans to acquire all outstanding Class A shares it does not currently own, effectively taking TaskUs off public exchanges.
This strategic move, unanimously approved by the TaskUs board following recommendations from its special committee of independent directors, is designed to strengthen the company&#8217;s long-term strategy.
CEO Bryce Maddock emphasized that the acquisition will help TaskUs navigate rapid shifts driven by artificial intelligence and allow for long-term investments to support both the company and its clients. Jaspar Weir will continue serving as president after the deal closes, ensuring leadership continuity during the company&#8217;s next phase of growth.
Maddock noted, &#8220;This strategic transaction will deliver immediate value to stockholders, while enabling TaskUs to make long-term investments to better support both our own business and our clients as we scale and adapt in the AI age.&#8221;
Amit Dixit, head of Asia Private Equity at Blackstone, underscored the firm&#8217;s confidence in TaskUs&#8217; ability to thrive in the fast-changing AI landscape, saying the transaction will provide the company with greater flexibility and resources to strengthen its value proposition.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
In addition to the buyout news, TaskUs reported strong <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45316168/taskus-announces-fiscal-first-quarter-2025-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter 2025</a> earnings. Revenue reached $277.8 million, up 22.1% year-over-year and surpassing the $271.06 million estimate by $6.7 million.
The company reported net income of $21.1 million (7.6% margin), adjusted net income of $35.9 million (12.9% margin), and diluted EPS of 23 cents. Notably, adjusted EPS came in at 38 cents, beating the 32 cents estimate.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $59.3 million, exceeding guidance by 130 basis points. TaskUs also generated $36.3 million in operating cash flow, $21.8 million in free cash flow, and achieved a 36.8% adjusted EBITDA-to-free cash flow conversion.
Price Action: TASK shares are trading higher by 14.53% at $16.47, and BX is up 0.97% at $141.07 on Friday&#8217;s last check.
Image: Shutterstock

Earnings

CTSH

TASK

TaskUs Stock Soars As Blackstone Unveils Buyout As Earnings Smash Estimates

FiscalNote Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOTE#NYSE">NOTE</a>) agreed<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45190351/fiscalnote-signs-definitive-agreement-to-divest-additional-non-core-asset-to-further-streamline-co" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> to sell</a> its Australian subsidiary, TimeBase, to Thomson Reuters Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRI#NASDAQ">TRI</a>) for $6.5 million.
FiscalNote acquired TimeBase in 2021, bringing Australian legislative data services to its portfolio for legal professionals. Operating largely apart from FiscalNote's core customer base, TimeBase contributed just $1.3 million to the company's $120.3 million in 2024 GAAP revenue.
The divestiture is part of FiscalNote's effort to streamline operations, reduce debt, and refocus on its core strengths—particularly the enhanced PolicyNote platform, which will continue serving clients in the Australian market. Proceeds from the sale will be used to pay down the company's senior-term loan.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45143938/thomson-reuters-maintains-strong-fy25-outlook-highlights-innovation-ai-as-key-growth-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomson Reuters Maintains Strong FY25 Outlook, Highlights Innovation, AI As Key Growth Drivers</a>
Despite the financial impact of the divestiture, FiscalNote reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, projecting revenue of $94 to $100 million (versus the consensus of $122.34 million) and adjusted EBITDA between $10 and $12 million. Management pointed to operational efficiencies and a more concentrated business model as drivers of sustained performance.
"This divestiture is another clear step in sharpening our strategic focus, improving our capital structure, and accelerating our path to positive free cash flow," said Josh Resnik, CEO and President of FiscalNote. 
Thomson Reuters held Cash and cash equivalents of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/n45128950/thomson-reuters-reports-first-quarter-2025-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$1.37 billion</a> as of March 31.
Price Action: NOTE shares are trading higher by 3.26% at 62 cents premarket at the last check Monday.
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</ul>

Asset Sales

NOTE

FiscalNote Sells TimeBase To Thomson Reuters For $6.5M, Reaffirms 2025 Outlook

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/04/16/final-trades-robinhood-datadog-the-igv-and-the-2-year-treasury.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Kevin Simpson of Capital Wealth Planning said Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) will have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44810015/robinhood-coinbase-could-benefit-from-new-digital-asset-regulation-says-bernstein">great numbers.</a>
A new digital assets regulatory framework could significantly expand the offerings of Robinhood and Coinbase (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), enabling both platforms to list a broader range of crypto assets and tokenized equities, according to a new Bernstein report.
Stephen L. Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners said he likes the safety of U.S. 2 Year Treasury.
Don't forget to check out our<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here</a>
Anastasia Amoroso of iCapital named iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (CBOE: IGV) as her final trade.
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Datadog, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>).
On Feb. 13, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform clocked fiscal fourth-quarter revenue growth of 25% year-on-year to $737.73 million, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $714.54 million. Adjusted EPS of 49 cents beat the analyst consensus estimate of 44 cents.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Robinhood shares dipped 7.8% to close at $40.66 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF fell 2.4% during Wednesday's session.</li>
<li>Datadog shares fell 0.7% to close at $91.88 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/04/44836659/top-3-industrials-stocks-that-may-plunge-this-month">Top 3 Industrials Stocks That May Plunge This Month</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Markets

Media

Trading Ideas

COIN

DDOG

HOOD

Datadog, Robinhood And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Robinhood Markets, Datadog, iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector

U.S. chip stocks, which enjoyed the spotlight during last year's AI investment boom, have taken a noticeable hit this year as investors shift focus to software companies—the emerging engine of AI value creation.&nbsp;
Tariff‐driven volatility and a dimming demand outlook, compounded by the emergence of lower‐cost AI models from China's DeepSeek, have put pressure on semiconductor shares.&nbsp;
For example, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index has fallen about 6% year‐to‐date, and industry leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) has dropped nearly 14% from its recent December high.
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<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
<li>This startup is on the brink of a huge disruption to a $654 billion industry – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/venhub-adv">invest in it for under $10 before it's too late</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Software Momentum Rising</h2>
Meanwhile, the software sector is showing robust gains. Companies such as Atlassian (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>), CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>), Palantir Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>), and Cognizant (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>) have surged between 7% and 19% this year, reflecting growing investor confidence in AI-driven applications.&nbsp;
Capital flows further illustrate this shift. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (CBOE: IGV) has attracted over $1.87 billion in inflows through Feb. 28, while both the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>)&nbsp; and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) have seen over $1 billion in outflows each.&nbsp;
In 2024, the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF experienced significant inflows, including a $277 million addition on Oct. 14. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF also saw substantial growth, with a 40.4% year-to-date increase as of Dec. 23, driven by rising demand for AI applications and cloud computing.
Trending: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>
According<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/us-chip-darlings-struggle-some-bet-software-next-big-ai-play-2025-03-06/"> </a>to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/us-chip-darlings-struggle-some-bet-software-next-big-ai-play-2025-03-06/">Reuters</a>, this rotation appears to be a natural progression. Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, explained that "the shift is a natural progression for AI investing—as the use cases for AI evolve, the true revenue drivers are emerging in software applications."&nbsp;
In addition, Morgan Stanley equity analyst Keith Weiss <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/insights/podcasts/thoughts-on-the-market/genai-profit-2025-joe-moore-keith-weiss">said</a>, "We're now starting to see the ascendancy of the software part of the equation, as companies begin to monetize their AI solutions effectively."
Yet, caution remains regarding the indispensable role of semiconductor hardware. According to <a href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/ai-stocks-nvidia-stock-software-companies/">Investors Business Daily</a>, while software revenues offer stability, the performance of Nvidia's GPUs is critical for powering AI, and no clever software can fully compensate for a basic lack of processing power.&nbsp;
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.55 per share now</a>.
DeepSeek's launch of a lower-priced chatbot has intensified competitive pressures. Goldman Sachs analyst Ryan Hammond said, according to <a href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/ai-stocks-nvidia-stock-software-companies">Investor's Business Daily</a>, that "the AI trade will broaden and that stocks with AI-enabled revenues offer better risk/reward for new capital than those involved in infrastructure"
Escalating Sino‑U.S. trade tensions and export restrictions add further uncertainty to the chip sector, prompting many to see software investments as a more stable, long-term opportunity.&nbsp;
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<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.26/share!</a></li>
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CRWD

NVDA

PLTR

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

TEAM

Nvidia Takes a Hit: Why AI Investors Are Moving Away from Chips to Software

On Thursday, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) disclosed several contracts and product enhancements.
Oracle and Microsoft launched the Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure, cutting infrastructure costs by up to 95%.
Oracle Base Database Service will soon be available for easier management and pay-as-you-go pricing.
Oracle Database@Azure is now offered in 14 regions, with 18 more planned for next year.
Additionally, Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure now supports the new Exadata X11M platform.
In a separate release, Oracle unveiled new employee <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44411608/oracle-helps-customers-boost-employee-engagement-with-strategic-communications-and-internal-events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communications and event management features</a>.
The updates to Oracle Fusion Cloud Communicate is expected to help HR teams drive engagement, enable managers to improve communication for greater productivity, and empower employees to promote inclusivity through grassroots events.
Also, Lloyds Banking Group looks to enhance customer experience by migrating its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44411978/lloyds-banking-group-expands-collaboration-with-oracle-to-support-tech-transformation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Oracle databases to Oracle Database@Azure</a>.
This move is expected to optimize business operations and banking services.
Additionally, AEGEAN, Greece's flagship carrier, has adopted Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience (CX) to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44411609/oracle-and-microsoft-add-powerful-flexible-new-services-to-oracle-database-azure-and-expand-region" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance personalization for travelers</a>.
Yesterday, disclosed two major deals, one with&nbsp;NVIDIA Corporation&nbsp;and another with&nbsp;Singapore's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44394046/oracle-integrates-nvidia-ai-enterprise-and-secures-major-defense-cloud-deal-with-singapore">Defence&nbsp;Science and Technology Agency&nbsp;(DSTA)</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via two exchange-traded funds (ETFs): 
Pacer Funds Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRFK#NYSE">TRFK</a>) and iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: ORCL shares are down 0.43% at $151.80 premarket at the last check Thursday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Oracle Expands Microsoft Partnership, Enhances Cloud Offerings

On Tuesday, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) disclosed two major deals, one with NVIDIA Corporation and another with Singapore&#8217;s Defence <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44384489/oracle-expands-distributed-cloud-capabilities-with-nvidia-ai-enterprise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science and Technology Agency</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44384489/oracle-expands-distributed-cloud-capabilities-with-nvidia-ai-enterprise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> (DSTA)</a>.
Oracle revealed that NVIDIA AI Enterprise, a full-stack, cloud-native software platform designed to enhance data science and streamline the creation and deployment of production-ready AI, will now be accessible on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
This integration will support sovereign AI and various other applications, enabling customers to easily access NVIDIA&#8217;s accelerated, secure, and scalable platform.
Additionally, customers will be able to acquire NVIDIA AI Enterprise through their existing Oracle Universal Credits and deploy it across OCI&#8217;s distributed cloud infrastructure.
Apart from this, Oracle inked a contract with Singapore&#8217;s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) to establish <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44386727/dsta-selects-oracle-cloud-infrastructure-for-ministry-of-defence-singapore" rel="noreferrer noopener">an Oracle Cloud Isolated Region</a>.
This new region will support the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
The partnership between DSTA and Oracle will provide MINDEF and the SAF with secure, high-performance, air-gapped cloud services, including data management and AI capabilities.
The Oracle Cloud Isolated Region will modernize the SAF&#8217;s Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) functions, enhancing scalability and performance.
This agreement enables the Digital and Intelligence Service to leverage Oracle&#8217;s air-gapped cloud for AI innovation and mission deployment.
Ng Chad-Son, Chief Executive of DSTA, said, &#8220;The demand for secure and scalable cloud solutions is growing. It is more than just data storage and computing – it will be the foundation for a lot of innovation. Through this pilot collaboration with Oracle, we will harness advanced cloud and AI technologies to digitalise and transform our operations.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Pacer Funds Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRFK#NYSE">TRFK</a>) and&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: ORCL shares are up 0.505% at $150.20 premarket at the last check Wednesday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Oracle Integrates NVIDIA AI Enterprise and Secures Major Defense Cloud Deal with Singapore

Super Micro Computers (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) — a top player in the AI infrastructure space — has seen its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">shares draw investors&#8217; attention</a>. 
In tandem with the rise in the share price, some exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, may benefit from having <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">exposure to Super Micro</a>.
Investors looking to cash in on Supermicro's AI-driven growth can consider the following ETFs:
<ul>
<li>VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>): This fund focuses on semiconductor giants like Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which directly benefits from Super Micro's AI server demand. As SMCI integrates more Nvidia Blackwell GPUs into its systems, both companies stand to gain.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Global X Robotics &amp; Artificial Intelligence ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOTZ#NASDAQ">BOTZ</a>): This fund focuses on AI, automation, and robotics stocks, such as those working in AI inferencing and edge computing. Super Micro&#8217;s strong, compact AI systems and enterprise AI clusters can power growth for this ETF.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#NYSE">IGV</a>): This fund choosing software-based AI firms, such as cloud computing and HPC companies reliant on Super Micro&#8217;s AI platform. An increased AI-driven demand might pull IGV up indirectly.</li>
</ul>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/25/03/44232013/10-analysts-have-this-to-say-about-super-micro-computer">10 Analysts Have This To Say About Super Micro Computer</a>
Supermicro's AI Expansion: Super Micro has recently made an AI infrastructure <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/11/3040619/0/en/Eviden-and-Supermicro-join-forces-to-enhance-enterprise-AI-capabilities.html">move </a>with Eviden to distribute its AI SuperCluster with NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 throughout Europe, India, the Middle East, and South America. This high-end AI system comes with 36 NVIDIA Grace CPUs and 72 Blackwell GPUs. It&#8217;s designed for training and inferencing trillion-parameter AI models, which is one of the primary requirements for AI-centric businesses.
Aside from that, Supermicro is <a href="https://ir.supermicro.com/news/news-details/2025/Supermicro-Brings-Superior-Performance-and-Efficiency-to-AI-at-the-Edge/default.aspx">venturing </a>into real-time AI inferencing with its new edge computing solutions. Supermicro has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44274133/supermicro-taps-intel-chips-to-power-real-time-ai-at-the-edge-eyes-growth-in-iot-and-healthcare">launched new small form-factor AI systems</a> based on the new Intel Xeon 6 SoC (Granite Rapids-D) and 15th Gen Intel Core Ultra processors featuring integrated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for AI acceleration.
Cautious Optimism: Despite its technological advancements, Wall Street remains cautious about Super Micro due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43646949/supermicro-sees-conservative-40-billion-revenue-target-despite-auditor-exit-stocks-50-slide">regulatory compliance problems</a>, such as delayed filings. But Rosenblatt Securities has resumed coverage with a buy rating and a $60 price target, indicating renewed optimism, Market Watch said. 
Analyst Kevin Cassidy is looking for an increase in the company&#8217;s price-to-earnings multiple as Super Micro "hits its revenue targets and gross margins expand, as long as there are no more delayed filings."
As Super Micro keeps expanding into AI, its position in enterprise AI, edge computing, and AI server infrastructure places it at the forefront of the AI revolution. Investors who want to ride this AI growth can tap into ETFs such as SMH, BOTZ, and IGV, which offer diversified exposure to Super Micro&#8217;s rally and the overall AI hardware market.
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Image: Shutterstock

BOTZ

SMCI

3 ETFs With Super Micro Computers Exposure, Enjoy AI Surge

On Wednesday, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) stated that Oracle Financial Services is enhancing its Investigation Hub Cloud Service with AI agents and agentic workflows to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44293394/oracle-brings-ai-agents-to-the-fight-against-financial-crime" rel="noreferrer noopener">automate financial crime investigations</a>.
Oracle Financial Services provides AI agents that uncover key insights, gather evidence, recommend actions, and generate detailed alert narratives, while reducing manual effort.
These capabilities help financial institutions of all sizes streamline crime and case management and are available globally.
Jason Somrak, head of financial crime product strategy, Oracle Financial Services said, &#8220;Our unique generative AI approach follows investigative plans, collects evidence, and recommends actions while providing investigators with robust narratives documenting the findings.&#8221;
&#8221;This enables firms to drive consistency in decision making and thoroughly investigate all risks automatically while realizing massive operational efficiencies.&#8221;
Today, Oracle announced that Oracle Red Bull Racing is expanding its use of Oracle Cloud and AI technologies on and off the track as the team <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44300358" rel="noreferrer noopener">kicks off the 2025 Formula One season.</a>
The 2025 F1 season begins&nbsp;March 14-16&nbsp;with the Louis Vuitton Australian&nbsp;Grand Prix&nbsp;in&nbsp;Melbourne.
This week, the company reported third-quarter revenue of $14.13 billion, missing the&nbsp;consensus estimate of $14.39 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.47, missing analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44236027/oracle-q3-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-backlog-booms-62-strong-ai-growth-expected-shares-climb" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates of $1.49 per share</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Pacer Funds Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRFK#NYSE">TRFK</a>) and&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: ORCL shares are down 2.18% at $147.60 at the last check Thursday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Oracle Leverages AI To Automate Financial Crime Probes, Boosting Efficiency

Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) disclosed a collaboration with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to enhance <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44266464/singapore-airlines-and-salesforce-collaborate-on-ai-powered-customer-servicing-applications-plan-t" rel="noreferrer noopener">the customer case management system</a>.
As per the deal, SIA will implement Agentforce, an AI-powered system that automates specific tasks to streamline customer service operations.
Additionally, both companies will work together at Salesforce&#8217;s AI Research hub in Singapore to develop AI-driven solutions for the aviation industry, bringing added value and benefits to airlines.
Powered by Salesforce&#8217;s Data Cloud, which consolidates relevant data, Agentforce enhances AI-driven support by providing tailored recommendations and solutions.
Additionally, SIA will leverage Einstein&#8217;s generative AI within Service Cloud to summarize past customer interactions and offer guidance on assistance.
This will help representatives anticipate needs, customize responses, and reduce response times, enabling more efficient and proactive customer service.
Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO, Salesforce stated, &#8220;We&#8217;re thrilled to partner with Singapore Airlines, a trailblazer in this AI revolution, to elevate their already outstanding customer service to unprecedented heights, augment their employees and collaborate on groundbreaking AI solutions for the airline industry.&#8221;
Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said, &#8220;Integrating Agentforce, Einstein in Service Cloud, and Data Cloud into SIA&#8217;s customer case management system enhances our ability to efficiently assist our customers, and marks the first step in our collaboration. Together, we will co-create AI solutions that drive meaningful and impactful change and set new standards for service excellence in the airline industry.&#8221;
Last week, Salesforce&nbsp;introduced Agentforce 2dx, which is the latest version of its digital labor platform designed to integrate autonomous&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44146057/salesforce-unveils-agentforce-2dx-ai-agents-that-work-beyond-chatbots" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI agents into business operations</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>) and&nbsp;REX FANG &amp; Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEPI#NASDAQ">FEPI</a>).
Price Action: CRM shares are up 0.96% at $279.70 premarket at the last check Wednesday.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44200350/salesforce-ai-expansion-sparks-analyst-optimism-400-price-forecast-set" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Is Trading Below 200-DMA, But Goldman Sachs Sees Huge Stock Upside After Agentforce 2dx Unveil</a></li>
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Photo: Photo Gonzo via Shutterstock.

AI Takes Flight: Singapore Airlines Taps Salesforce For Next-Gen Customer Service Tech

Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) introduced Agentforce 2dx, which is the latest version of its digital labor platform designed to integrate autonomous <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44139059/salesforce-launches-agentforce-2dx-with-new-capabilities-to-embed-proactive-agentic-ai-into-any-wo" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI agents into business operations</a>.
This update moves beyond traditional chat interfaces, enabling AI agents to work proactively in the background without continuous human supervision.
Agentforce 2dx introduces new low-code and pro-code tools, enabling Salesforce developers to efficiently configure, test, and deploy AI agents.
These tools come with advanced analytics for real-time monitoring, debugging, and optimization.
Salesforce has launched the free Agentforce Developer Edition, allowing developers to prototype AI agents and explore Data Cloud, its hyperscale data engine.
Adam Evans, EVP and GM of Salesforce&#8217;s AI Platform, said, &#8220;By extending digital labor beyond CRM, we&#8217;re making it easier than ever for businesses to embed agentic AI into any workflow or application to handle routine tasks, augment employees, and connect with customers.&#8221;
&#8221;With deep integrations across Salesforce&#8217;s digital labor platform, CIOs, IT leaders, and developers can seamlessly build agents and automate work wherever it happens, driving efficiency, fueling innovation, and unlocking new opportunities in the $6 trillion digital labor market.&#8221;
Yesterday, the company introduced AgentExchange, which is a marketplace and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/03/44113171/agentexchange-salesforces-new-ai-marketplace-targets-6-trillion-digital-labor-market" rel="noreferrer noopener">community integrated within Salesforce</a>.
AgentExchange streamlines AI agent deployment with a library of ready-to-use templates and actions while allowing partners to monetize their components.
Launching with over 200 partners and hundreds of pre-vetted actions, the platform ensures security and customer-reviewed solutions for seamless AI integration across industries.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>) and&nbsp;REX FANG &amp; Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEPI#NASDAQ">FEPI</a>).
Price Action: CRM shares are down 0.47% at $285.98 at the last check Wednesday.
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Image via Shutterstock.

Salesforce Unveils Agentforce 2dx: AI Agents That Work Beyond Chatbots

On Tuesday, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) introduced AgentExchange, which is a marketplace and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44106251/salesforce-launches-agentexchange-the-trusted-marketplace-for-agentforce" rel="noreferrer noopener">community integrated within Salesforce</a>.
At launch, AgentExchange features over 200 partners and hundreds of pre-built actions, topics, and templates, all rigorously reviewed for security and customer standards.
These solutions enable businesses to deploy AI agents efficiently, driving productivity, innovation, and operational effectiveness across industries.
Building on the success of Salesforce AppExchange, AgentExchange enhances Agentforce, Salesforce's digital labor platform, by expanding its capabilities and ecosystem.
This platform is expected to create new opportunities for partners, developers, and Agentblazers to engage in the rapidly growing $6 trillion digital labor market.
Alice Steinglass, EVP &amp; GM of Platform, Integration and Automation at Salesforce said, &#8220;Now our developer community can directly tap the expertise of our partner ecosystem to get the right industry-specific solutions so they can build and implement AI agents, and be the pioneers turning their businesses into Agentforce companies.&#8221;
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43919364/ai-meets-data-salesforce-google-collaborate-to-revolutionize-autonomous-business-agents" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce &amp; Google Supercharge AI: New Partnership Unlocks Next-Gen Business Automation</a>
In a separate release, Salesforce disclosed that 1-800Accountant is leveraging Agentforce <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44106209/1-800accountant-adopts-salesforces-agentforce-to-scale-expertise-during-tax-season-surge-now-resol" rel="noreferrer noopener">to enhance customer support</a>.
Agentforce, Salesforce's digital labor solution, now enables 1-800Accountant's service teams to deliver seamless, 24/7 assistance.
Ryan Teeples, Chief Technology Officer, 1-800Accountant, said, &#8220;With Agentforce now helping to resolve up to 50% of incoming requests, we can securely address responses to questions like tax return status, freeing our team to focus on more complex tasks while ensuring fast, secure, personalized support.&#8221;
Adam Evans, EVP and GM, Salesforce AI stated, &#8220;With Agentforce, they&#8217;re able to implement new&nbsp;agentic AI&nbsp;solutions to make meaningful improvements to customer satisfaction while also improving the work experience for their dedicated customer representatives.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>) and&nbsp;REX FANG &amp; Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEPI#NASDAQ">FEPI</a>).
Price Action: CRM shares are down 2.56% at $285.56 at the last check Tuesday.
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Image via Shutterstock.

AgentExchange: Salesforce's New AI Marketplace Targets $6 Trillion Digital Labor Market

At the Oracle Customer Edge Summit, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) disclosed several <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44074520/new-ai-agent-capabilities-in-oracle-textura-help-accelerate-subcontractor-payments" rel="noreferrer noopener">new features and launches</a>.
The company unveiled new AI agent features integrated into the Oracle Textura Payment Management Cloud Service.
This AI-powered assistant, available to all Textura subcontractors in the U.S., offers real-time, tailored support, helping users quickly find answers to frequently asked pay application questions and complete other essential tasks.
Mike Antis, global vice president, Textura said, &#8220;With the ability to get in-app, real-time assistance 24/7, we are helping our general contractor customers improve the relationships with their subcontractors while reducing costly support calls.&#8221;
&#8221;This enhancement helps improve the experience for the 200,000 subcontractors who log in to Textura each month, assisting them to quickly find the answers they need to get paid and focus more of their time on the job at hand.&#8221;
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43533189/oracle-enhances-cloud-hcm-with-ai-helping-businesses-improve-hr-efficiency" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle Enhances Cloud HCM With AI, Helping Businesses Improve HR Efficiency</a>
Also, Oracle introduced Oracle Energy and Water Data Exchange, which is a cloud-based solution designed to simplify data <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44075001/oracle-helps-utilities-transform-raw-data-into-intelligence" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration, sharing, and AI-driven insights</a>.
With this solution, cloud developers, data scientists, and analysts can accelerate key projects such as data mining, predictive analytics, and generative AI applications.
Hillary Martin, vice president of analytics and innovation, Oracle Infrastructure stated, &#8220;By cleansing, organizing, and adding the appropriate meaning&nbsp;to an organization&#8217;s data,&nbsp;Oracle Energy and Water Data Exchange makes data easier to find, understand, and leverage for AI and advanced analytics use cases that can transform raw data into actionable insights.&#8221;
Last month, Oracle launched the Oracle US Gov West (Phoenix) and Azure US Gov Arizona (Phoenix) regions for Oracle <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n44004160/oracle-interconnect-for-microsoft-azure-now-supports-oracle-us-government-cloud" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interconnect for </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n44004160/oracle-interconnect-for-microsoft-azure-now-supports-oracle-us-government-cloud" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Azure</a>.
This allows joint customers to seamlessly migrate workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Azure FedRAMP High-authorized environments.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Pacer Funds Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRFK#NYSE">TRFK</a>) and&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: ORCL shares are down 0.74% at $164.83 at the last check Monday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Oracle Boosts AI In Construction And Cloud With New Innovations At Customer Edge Summit

Analyst Ratings

CSCO

IBKR

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Fiserv, Cisco Systems, Interactive Brokers Group, iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF

Cloud software company Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) significantly expanded its strategic partnership with Google to offer businesses greater flexibility in selecting AI models and capabilities for building<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/b43911729/salesforce-and-google-bring-gemini-to-agentforce-enable-more-customer-choice-in-major-partnership-" rel="noreferrer noopener"> and deploying AI-driven agents</a>.
The enhanced partnership strengthens customers&#8217; ability to leverage data, AI, and trust to integrate autonomous agents into their businesses effectively.
Through this expanded partnership, Salesforce customers can now build Agentforce agents using Gemini and deploy Salesforce on Google Cloud.
This builds upon their existing collaboration, which enables seamless, bidirectional data integration between Data Cloud and Google BigQuery using zero-copy technology.
This partnership extends beyond core product integrations, creating a more connected and intelligent data foundation for businesses.
Salesforce and Google Cloud said they are committed to continuous innovation, with deeper collaboration planned throughout 2025.
Enhanced integrations across Data Cloud, BigQuery, and Cortex Framework will streamline secure AI agent deployment using enterprise data.
Additionally, new native integrations between Tableau, Looker, and BigQuery will enable businesses to manage and visualize data seamlessly within a unified interface, ensuring standardized business logic and data definitions.
Earlier this month, Salesforce declared its intention&nbsp;to invest in&nbsp;Saudi Arabia to bolster <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43616463/salesforce-and-aws-pledge-500m-to-boost-ai-development-in-saudi-arabia" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence (AI) development</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>) and REX FANG &amp; Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEPI#NASDAQ">FEPI</a>).
Price Action: CRM shares are up 0.14% at $310.22 at the last check Monday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Salesforce & Google Supercharge AI: New Partnership Unlocks Next-Gen Business Automation

Cybersecurity firm Fortinet, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>) released its upbeat fourth-quarter print on Thursday.
Fortinet reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43546703/fortinet-stock-surges-on-q4-earnings-beat" rel="noreferrer noopener">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $1.66 billion, up 17%, topping the&nbsp;consensus estimate&nbsp;of $1.59 billion. The cybersecurity company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 74 cents per share, above analyst estimates of 61 cents per share.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43475080/paypal-beats-q4-estimates-as-transaction-margins-and-payment-volume-drive-growth-eyes-2025-growth-with-strong-tmd-eps-outlook-ahead-of-investor-day-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">PayPal Transaction Margins and Payment Volume Drive Growth, Eyes 2025 Growth With Strong TMD Ahead of Investor Day: Analyst</a>
Fortinet expects first-quarter revenue of $1.5 billion-$1.56 billion versus estimates of $1.53 billion. The company anticipates first-quarter adjusted earnings of 52 cents-54 cents per share versus estimates of 53 cents per share.
Wall Street analysts rerated the stock:
<ul>
<li>Needham analyst Matt Dezort reiterated a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FTNT/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hold on Fortinet</a>.</li>
<li>Guggenheim analyst John Difucci maintained a Neutral on Fortinet.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst reiterated a Buy on Fortinet with a price target of $130.</li>
</ul>
Needham: Fortinet reported a strong fourth quarter with Billings and Product Revenue well ahead, while guidance was mixed with first-quarter Billings growth of ~11%, modestly below consensus and full-year in-line across the board.
Product Revenue growth of +18% beat consensus by ~10% and was driven by early firewall refresh activity, which was particularly strong in Enterprise/ Mid-Market.
Billings grew 7% to $2 billion, $50 million above forecast, driven by double-digit growth from both SASE and SecOps and strong growth in $5 million-$10 million deals, up 90%.
Fortinet is implementing several new GTM initiatives to maximize the refresh opportunity, including adding capacity, vertical sales plays, and renewed channel incentives. CFO Keith Jensen announced he will be retiring, and Chief Accounting Officer Ms. Christiane Ohlgart will take over the role.
Guggenheim: Fortinet reported fourth-quarter results that were better than consensus estimates as total revenue accelerated to 17% growth and billings grew 7%.
New ARR for Software (Subscription + Support) was flattish, but if assuming a 5-year life for the New Workload, Difucci estimates New ARR was modestly positive (+3%) for the first time in 6 quarters.
In other words, the business is improving, but it remains challenging. First-quarter guidance was essentially in line, though revenue was below consensus at the midpoint, while annual 2025 guidance was better than the Street.
There continues to be much discussion around the product refresh cycle associated with supporting end-of-life in 2026 for products that would constitute $400 million to 450 million in Product revenue over the next two years.
However, Difucci modeled a natural Product refresh on a 5-year bell curve, coincidentally yielding a natural incremental refresh of about $450 million over the next two years. This would provide ample upside to Product and Support revenue implied in guidance, though less to Subscription. Then it comes down to what all this is worth.
Difucci does not see Fortinet as expensive at 17 times EV/NTM recurring revenue or 38 times EV/NTM FCF after the close, but it is not incredibly cheap, either.
While Difucci is comfortable that the Product refresh will provide some business traction, the stock has doubled since the company started pushing this narrative versus the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>), up 24%.
This, in addition to the consistently sluggish momentum in the business, as reflected in New ARR growth, or lack thereof, over the past year and a half, kept the analyst at Neutral.
Goldman Sachs: Fortinet&#8217;s fourth-quarter billings were 2% above the Street, EBIT was 550bps above, and EPS was 22% above. Fiscal 2025 Billings guidance of +12% and EBIT guidance of 32% (at the midpoint) was in line with the Street.
The fourth-quarter results and 2025 commentary illustrate that Fortinet&#8217;s extensive firewall installed base is still early in realizing the potential of upsell from adopting newer converged networking technologies.
EBIT margin outperformance (550bps above the Street) continues to illustrate Fortinet&#8217;s structurally better unit economics.
Price Action: FTNT stock is up 4.03% at $108.94 at the last check on Friday.
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</ul>
Photo by JHVEPhoto via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Price Target

Reiteration

FTNT

Fortinet's Firewall Refresh and Enterprise Deals Drive Growth, Analysts Highlight Upsell Potential

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) shares are trading higher on Thursday after the company introduced new role-based AI agents for one of its solutions.
What Happened: Oracle Fusion Cloud <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43520364/oracle-ai-agents-help-hr-leaders-reshape-the-employee-experience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Capital Management (HCM)</a>, part of the Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite, is a comprehensive solution that integrates every HR process from hire to retire.
The tool is expected to enhance the employee experience and improve workforce productivity for HR and business leaders.
These AI agents, which is now available to customers, streamlines complex workflows by automating repetitive tasks, enabling employees to focus on more meaningful work.
The AI agents integrated into Oracle Cloud HCM enhance the employee experience and productivity by providing personalized career support, automating administrative tasks, and simplifying processes such as onboarding, contracts, performance reviews, and perks management.
Why It Matters: &#8220;The new AI agents in Oracle Cloud HCM help HR and business leaders automate some of the most time-consuming tasks, enabling employees to focus on work that really matters, and unlocking new levels of productivity across their workforce,&#8221; Oracle EVP Chris Leone said. 
Last month, the tech giant teamed up with Elon Musk's&nbsp;Starlink, the largest satellite network globally, to improve connectivity for its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43274458/oracle-integrates-elon-musks-starlink-to-provide-global-high-speed-communication" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enterprise Communications Platform (ECP)</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Pacer Funds Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRFK#NYSE">TRFK</a>) and&nbsp;iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGV#BATS">IGV</a>).
Price Action: Oracle shares are trading higher by 1.01% at $173.40 premarket on the last check Thursday.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43494592/jpmorgan-picks-winners-losers-after-deepseek-debut-how-alphabet-amazon-intel-and-oracle-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPMorgan Picks Winners, Losers After DeepSeek Debut: How Alphabet, Amazon, Intel And Oracle Rank</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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