In today’s Steady Investor, we examine the forces driving recent market volatility and what they could mean for investors in the months ahead, including:

• AI challenges the software business
• Services steady, manufacturing uneven
• Trade deal signals tariff shift

‘AI Displacement’ Worries Spill into Software Companies – An existential question surfaced this week both for investors and major software companies: what happens if AI doesn‘t just enhance software, but begins to compete with it? That concern moved quickly through parts of the market last week, following Anthropic‘s rollout of legal/contract focused AI tools that could handle tasks traditionally done by specialized software platforms and data providers. Up to this point, software companies have been viewed as beneficiaries of AI adoption, given their role as the systems of record that businesses rely on for workflows, data, and compliance. Investors loved the recurring revenue software giants posted month after month with subscription models. But as AI tools have become more capable of drafting documents, analyzing data, and even writing code, investors are reassessing how durable those advantages may be, especially for application-layer software. The stock market selloff this week reflected this growing concern. Many companies with ties to financial software, payments, data services, and enterprise platforms sold off sharply, as did private-equity firms that have built significant exposure to software through buyouts and private-credit investments. The episode underscores how attention is expanding to second-order effects of AI development, i.e., identifying which existing business models could face pressure if AI lowers barriers to entry or compresses pricing power. We saw this in the stock market this week, but investors should also be eyeing private markets and in particular, private credit, where software now represents a meaningful share of portfolios. As AI capabilities accelerate, investors are beginning to differentiate more carefully between companies that can harness AI as a competitive advantage and those that may see it erode their moat.¹

A Smarter Way to Invest Through Uncertainty

Today’s markets move fast, and emotional reactions can easily replace disciplined decision-making. Fear of loss, headline chasing, and short-term thinking often lead investors away from their long-term goals.

Our complimentary guide, Three Steps to Combat Investment Behavioral Bias², offers practical strategies to help you stay grounded and make clearer decisions. Inside, you’ll find insights, such as:

• The two main types of biases that affect investors: Cognitive and Emotional
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• Three essential actions you can take to counteract the natural investor tendencies toward bias

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U.S. Services Hold Steady While Manufacturing Wobbles – Recent survey data continue to point to a U.S. economy moving at two different speeds. Activity in the services sector, which makes up the bulk of economic output, remains firmly in expansion, while manufacturing shows tentative signs of stabilization after a prolonged slump. The Institute for Supply Management’s Services PMI held at 53.8 in January, marking the second straight month in which all major subcomponents remained in growth territory. Business activity strengthened, new orders stayed positive, and employment expanded for a second month. Manufacturing presents a more mixed picture. After more than two years of contraction, the ISM manufacturing PMI moved back into expansion territory in January, driven by a rebound in new orders and production. Several large manufacturing industries reported growth, and backlog measures improved meaningfully, which is typically a constructive signal for future output. However, the labor side of manufacturing remains a clear weak spot. Employment in the sector is still contracting, even as other components improve. Many firms report managing headcounts rather than hiring, reflecting both efficiency gains and lingering uncertainty around demand, costs, and supply chains.³

Manufacturing Employment Peaked in 2023 and Has Been in Decline Since

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis ⁴

A key metric to watch in the manufacturing sector is construction spending, which peaked in 2024 and has been in a steady decline over the past year. For companies to invest in new plants and domestic growth projects, there needs to be multi-year certainty of the viability of the plans, which has been difficult for many companies in the face of inconsistent tariff policy.

U.S. Manufacturing Construction Spending

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis ⁵

U.S. – India Trade Deal Indicates Potential Thawing in Tariff Policy – The U.S. and India have reached a new trade agreement that lowers tariffs on Indian goods while securing commitments on energy purchases, underscoring a more pragmatic turn in recent trade negotiations. Under the deal, the U.S. will reduce its reciprocal tariff on India to 18%, down from 25%. In return, India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead increase purchases of U.S. energy and agricultural products. The agreement also includes pledges from India to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. goods over time and to commit to as much as $500 billion in U.S. imports. Details of the agreement remain limited, and India has a long history of announcing tariff reductions that take time to materialize in practice. The headline commitments are meaningful, but follow-through will determine their ultimate economic impact. Still, the agreement fits a broader pattern emerging in global trade. Even amid elevated tariffs, countries are continuing to strike bilateral and regional deals aimed at preserving market access and reducing uncertainty. In that sense, recent trade negotiations appear less about reversing globalization and more about reshaping it.⁶

Three Steps to Overcoming Investor Bias – Headlines can change by the hour, but a sound investment process shouldn’t. The key to better decisions is recognizing how emotion can quietly shape your choices and having a plan to counter it.

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• The two main types of biases that affect investors: Cognitive and Emotional
• Specific examples of biased decision-making that can negatively impact your portfolio
• Three essential actions you can take to counteract the natural investor tendencies toward bias

If you have $500,000 or more to invest and are ready to learn more, click on the link below to get your copy today!

About Zacks Investment Management

Zacks Investment Management was born out of one of the country’s largest providers of independent research, Zacks Investment Research. Our independent research capabilities from our parent company truly distinguish us from other wealth management firms - our strategies are derived from research and innovation, including the proprietary Zacks Rank stock selection model, earnings surprise and estimate revision factors. At Zacks Investment Management, we work with clients with $500,000 or more to invest, and we use this independent research, 35+ years of investment management experience, and tools we’ve developed to design customized investment portfolios based on each client’s individual needs. The end result is investment management that is research driven, results oriented and client focused.