New York, Jan 30, 2026, 12:50 EST — Regular session
- CrowdStrike shares tick up following a sharp drop in the previous session
- Investor sentiment in software remains shaky amid debates over AI disruption and interest rate impacts
- Company highlights new Gartner Peer Insights award for endpoint protection
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) edged up 0.1% to $444.9 in midday trading Friday, after dipping to a session low of $436.9. Palo Alto Networks gained 0.5%, while Fortinet fell 0.8%.
The modest move conceals a tough week for software stocks. A broad selloff on Thursday hit after SAP issued a cautious cloud forecast and ServiceNow fell post-earnings, sparking fears that new AI tools might disrupt subscription software. “The market’s kind of in our view pricing a worst-case scenario,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. Software-as-a-service, or SaaS, companies generally sell subscriptions to business clients. 1
Macro factors offered no relief Friday as U.S. stocks dropped following President Donald Trump’s nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell. Investors largely saw Warsh as a hawkish pick. “It’s hard to know exactly what direction Warsh will go because he’s had a past history of being a hawk,” said Eric Gerster, chief investment officer at AlphaCore Wealth Advisory. 2
CrowdStrike dropped 5.24% Thursday, closing at $444.62 after a second consecutive day of losses. Volume surged to 5.2 million shares, more than twice its 50-day average. The stock ended roughly 22% below its 52-week peak, according to MarketWatch data. 3
On Wednesday, the company shifted focus to customer approval. CrowdStrike announced it earned a spot as a Customers’ Choice in Gartner Peer Insights’ “Voice of the Customer” report for endpoint protection platforms — software that safeguards laptops, servers, and other devices. “The strongest validation in cybersecurity comes from customers,” said Elia Zaitsev, CrowdStrike’s chief technology officer. 4
CrowdStrike is ramping up efforts in identity security, targeting attackers who hijack user credentials instead of exploiting software bugs. Earlier this month, it struck a $740 million deal to acquire identity security startup SGNL. CEO George Kurtz summed up the challenge bluntly to Reuters: “the adversaries aren’t breaking in; they’re logging in.” 5
That said, CrowdStrike’s stock still carries some scars. The company noted that incentives and discounts linked to its 2024 software outage could delay subscription revenue timing, despite steady demand for security tools. Any renewed pullback in enterprise spending would probably hit high-multiple cybersecurity stocks hardest. 6
Looking ahead, earnings loom as the next major event. Nasdaq’s calendar has CrowdStrike set to report on March 3. Investors will focus on guidance, the mood around software demand, and any news on how the deal integration is progressing. 7
