New York, Jan 22, 2026, 13:18 EST — Regular session
- ServiceNow shares climbed roughly 1.8% by midday, clawing back some losses from earlier in the week.
- This week, the workflow software maker revealed a closer OpenAI partnership and updates to its partner program focused on AI agents.
- Wall Street is focused on ServiceNow’s Jan. 28 earnings, eager to see if AI-driven features can boost usage while keeping margins intact.
Shares of ServiceNow, Inc. climbed Thursday, gaining $2.24, or 1.8%, to close at $127.54. The stock fluctuated between $125.10 and $127.67 during the day.
The stock has endured a tough run. ServiceNow dropped 1.5% on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day in the red. Still, it fared better than several software rivals as the S&P 500 fell roughly 2%.
Analyst sentiment remains cautious heading into earnings. This week, TD Cowen’s Derrick Wood cut his price target to $200 from $230 but maintained a Buy rating. He described his checks as “bullish” and highlighted cRPO — current remaining performance obligations, which tracks contracted revenue yet to be recognized — as a key figure to monitor. tipranks.com
ServiceNow is pushing the focus back to its products and user adoption. On Tuesday, the company announced a multi-year partnership with OpenAI, enabling customers to integrate OpenAI models directly into ServiceNow workflows. The collaboration includes features like speech-to-speech interactions and agent-style automation. “With OpenAI, ServiceNow is building the future of AI experiences,” said Amit Zavery, president and chief product officer. newsroom.servicenow.com
A Wall Street Journal report revealed the deal spans three years and features a revenue commitment from ServiceNow, with payments tied to customer usage of OpenAI models within ServiceNow’s offerings. OpenAI Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap told the Journal that “enterprises want OpenAI intelligence applied directly into ServiceNow workflows.” streetinsider.com
At its Las Vegas partner kickoff, ServiceNow highlighted its ecosystem strategy. The company revamped its Build Program and is pushing the ServiceNow Store as the go-to marketplace for partner-built AI agents. It’s also moving partners to a simplified annual fee model. ServiceNow reported having more than 2,700 partners worldwide, with over 1,000 expected to transition to the new program by March.
Investors are being sold on “AI agents” — software that goes beyond just answering questions by acting on users’ behalf — as a way to boost usage in IT support, customer service, and operations. The bet is that this will help ServiceNow deepen its grip on major accounts.
The immediate question is if customers are willing to pay more, and if this will be reflected in contracted backlog and guidance. Analysts are closely watching subscription trends and cRPO to gauge demand, particularly as enterprises balance AI add-ons with tighter budgets.
But the upside isn’t straightforward. ServiceNow cautioned that launching new AI features might face delays and unplanned expenses. Changes in AI regulations could also affect which products get released and how quickly customers take them up. Any hiccup in its guidance could keep the stock stuck near recent lows, especially since software valuations remain highly reactive to growth updates.
ServiceNow is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year results after the market closes on Wednesday, Jan. 28, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. Investors will be focused on any updates about the OpenAI rollout and projections for how much revenue it might generate in 2026.
