Zacks Investment Ideas section spotlights: Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Amazon, NVIDIA, IGV, and MNDY

Press Announcement

Chicago, IL – February 25, 2026 – Zacks Investment Ideas spotlights several leading technology companies, including Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), NVIDIA (NVDA), the iShares Software ETF (IGV), and Monday.com (MNDY).

Propense.ai’s Hatfield: Agentic AI for Professionals

The Unmatched Expansion of Artificial Intelligence

For much of the 2000s, investors and analysts often criticized major technology firms for being too conservative with their capital, preferring to accumulate cash and repurchase shares rather than invest in growth. The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has dramatically changed this approach among America’s tech leaders.

The introduction of OpenAI’s ‘ChatGPT’ demonstrated not only the revolutionary potential of AI but also the strong market appetite for such technology. To avoid being left behind and to seize new opportunities, large technology companies have ramped up their investments. In 2025 alone, industry giants like Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Amazon collectively spent $357 billion on NVIDIA hardware and massive AI data centers to advance their AI initiatives.

Despite concerns about excessive spending, these companies anticipate even greater capital expenditures in 2026. According to Ryan Detrick of Carson Research, AI-related investments are expected to surpass 2% of the U.S. GDP in 2026, exceeding the scale of the 1850s railroad boom.

2026: Agentic AI – Moving Beyond Chatbots

So far, the AI surge has centered on chatbots and large language models (LLMs) such as ‘Gemini’ and ‘ChatGPT.’ These tools are popular because they are user-friendly, customer-facing, and backed by leading American firms.

While chatbots continue to generate revenue and evolve, investors should also pay attention to other groundbreaking AI technologies. IBM describes ‘agentic AI’ as a system capable of achieving specific objectives with minimal human oversight. These AI agents use machine learning to replicate human decision-making and address real-time challenges.

ClawdBot: The Breakthrough for Agentic AI

Agentic AI has experienced its own transformative moment with the launch of ClawdBot (now OpenClaw) in January 2026. This self-hosted AI agent can perform tasks directly from messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Slack. Unlike traditional LLMs that only generate text, OpenClaw can manage files, browse the internet, and interact with other software, operating continuously around the clock.

Why is this significant for investors? In 1994, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon after learning about the explosive growth of web usage. Similarly, OpenClaw’s popularity skyrocketed, amassing over 207,000 GitHub stars in a single day. Searches for AI agent integration also surged from 110 to over 12,000 within a month.

Agentic AI: Gradual Progress, Then Rapid Change

The full impact of agentic AI remains uncertain, but recent market activity is telling. The iShares Software ETF recently experienced its steepest decline ever, surpassing even the dot-com crash.

• Monday.com shares dropped over 20% due to weak forecasts and worries that AI could disrupt its project management software model.
• Databricks, a private tech firm based in San Francisco, secured $7 billion to develop its AI agent database amid strong investor demand.
• Google unveiled ‘PaperBanana,’ an agentic platform that automates the creation of publication-ready diagrams and statistical charts.

If AI’s trajectory mirrors the internet boom of the late 1990s, investors may discover the next wave of high-growth companies among lesser-known names. Agentic AI is expanding the industry’s reach, enabling greater productivity and efficiency, and giving smaller, innovative firms a chance to thrive in the AI era.

The Value of Studying Private Markets

While most retail investors cannot access private investments, analyzing private technology companies can give public market investors a strategic advantage. Observing these firms offers early insights into industry shifts, technological innovation, and emerging competition—often before these trends are reflected in public stock prices.

Propense.ai: AI-Powered SaaS for Professional Services

Readers familiar with my previous work may recall my coverage of Propense.ai, a Miami-based AI startup. Two years ago, I highlighted Propense.ai as a company to watch. The firm integrates AI, data science, user psychology, and industry expertise to anticipate client needs. In late 2024, Propense.ai secured a $3 million investment from Thomson Reuters Ventures to further develop its AI-driven B2B sales solutions.

By June, I reported on Propense.ai’s continued growth in the legal sector after signing three AM Law 200 firms—representing 2,000 attorneys—to its beta program. The company also built on its success in accounting, serving about 15% of all Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) firms.

Propense.ai’s Shift from Core AI to Agentic AI

In the fast-paced world of AI and technology, adaptability is crucial. The recent decline in Monday.com’s stock highlights the need to embrace new advancements. Propense.ai exemplifies this by evolving from a ‘core AI’ provider to an agentic AI company. While core AI focuses on passive content creation and analysis, agentic AI operates autonomously, planning and executing complex tasks with minimal human input.

Propense.ai Unveils ‘Hatfield’

Unlike many AI firms that aim for broad applications, Propense.ai remains dedicated to supporting accounting and legal professionals in growing their businesses efficiently. These professionals often struggle to balance client service with practice development.

Consider a CPA during tax season—a period marked by intense pressure and time constraints. Accountants and lawyers must not only manage filings but also oversee staffing, maintain client relationships, and attract new business. Recognizing these challenges, Propense.ai is launching ‘Hatfield,’ an always-available AI client service partner designed specifically for accounting and legal professionals who want to consistently deliver outstanding client experiences without additional workload.

What Can Hatfield Do?

Previously, professionals needed to work long hours or hire extra staff to manage both their core responsibilities and client relations. Hatfield aims to simplify their work with features such as:

• Continuous Client Monitoring: Keeps track of important client signals, social media, external events, and regulatory changes in real time. Hatfield can automatically send birthday wishes or notify you of critical updates.
• Personalized Support: Tailors its assistance to your preferences and workflow—whether you want updates daily, weekly, or on a custom schedule, and adapts to busy or slow seasons.
• Proactive Alerts: Instantly flags urgent issues, relationship risks, and new opportunities as they arise.
• Scalable White-Glove Service: Enables you to provide personalized, high-quality service to every client automatically.
• Reputation Management: Ensures you never overlook important details that matter to your clients.

Currently, Hatfield is exclusive to Propense.ai clients, but its influence on the legal and accounting sectors is worth watching.

Conclusion

While major technology firms focus on building the infrastructure of tomorrow, companies like Propense.ai are demonstrating how AI can address real-world challenges. By advancing from predictive analytics to agentic AI with Hatfield, Propense.ai is offering professionals more than just a tool—they’re providing an autonomous, tireless partner.

For investors and industry observers, the takeaway is clear: the AI revolution is shifting from conversational tools to actionable solutions. In this rapidly changing environment, Propense.ai’s commitment to agentic AI positions both the company and its clients at the forefront of innovation.

Free Access: Zacks’ Top Market Strategies

Since 2000, Zacks’ leading stock selection strategies have consistently outperformed the S&P’s average annual gain of 7.7%, with average returns of +48.4%, +50.2%, and +56.7% per year.

Today, you can access these proven strategies and discover high-potential stocks—completely free and with no obligation.

Learn more here >>

Contact Information

Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339

Zacks’ Top Semiconductor Pick

This lesser-known company specializes in semiconductor products that industry leaders like NVIDIA do not manufacture. Positioned for the next phase of market growth, it is just beginning to attract attention—an ideal time for investors.

With robust earnings and a growing customer base, the company is set to benefit from surging demand in AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is forecasted to rise from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.

See This Stock Now for Free >>

Want more recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Download the 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): Free Stock Analysis Report

Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL): Free Stock Analysis Report

iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV): ETF Research Reports

monday.com Ltd. (MNDY): Free Stock Analysis Report

Meta Platforms, Inc. (META): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article was first published by Zacks Investment Research.

Zacks Investment Research