Stocks Fall as AI Concerns Dampen Market Sentiment

Nasdaq 100 posts 2.75-month low as losses in AI-infrastructure firms and megacap tech stocks weigh on broader market

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The S&P 500 Index, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq 100 Index are all down today, with the Nasdaq 100 posting a 2.75-month low. Losses in AI-infrastructure firms and the megacap Magnificent Seven technology stocks are weighing on the broader market. Risk-off sentiment is weighing on stocks amid concerns that the payout from elevated capital spending by tech companies on artificial intelligence will not come anytime soon, and that the latest AI tools are already disrupting many sectors.

Why it matters

The market's focus on AI-related concerns reflects the growing importance and potential impact of this technology on various industries. The sell-off in AI-infrastructure firms and megacap tech stocks could signal broader economic disruption and uncertainty around the timeline for realizing the benefits of AI investments.

The details

Losses in AI-infrastructure firms like Nvidia and the megacap Magnificent Seven technology stocks including Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft are dragging down the broader market. Investors are concerned that the payout from elevated capital spending by tech companies on artificial intelligence will not come anytime soon, and that the latest AI tools released by companies like Google and Anthropic are already good enough to disrupt many sectors of the economy, including finance, logistics, software, and trucking.

  • The S&P 500 Index is down -0.57% today.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down -0.25% today.
  • The Nasdaq 100 Index is down -1.10% today, posting a 2.75-month low.

The players

S&P 500 Index

A stock market index that measures the performance of the 500 largest U.S. publicly traded companies.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

A stock market index that tracks 30 large U.S. publicly traded companies.

Nasdaq 100 Index

A stock market index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Nvidia

An American multinational technology company that designs graphics processing units (GPUs) for the gaming and professional markets, as well as system on a chip units for the mobile computing and automotive market.

Alphabet

The parent company of Google, a multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products.

Amazon.com

An American multinational technology company that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.

Microsoft

An American multinational technology company that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The market's focus on AI-related concerns reflects the growing importance and potential impact of this technology on various industries. The sell-off in AI-infrastructure firms and megacap tech stocks could signal broader economic disruption and uncertainty around the timeline for realizing the benefits of AI investments.