SaaS Companies Tout Earnings to Dispel AI Disruption Fears

Firms post results to convince lenders they can withstand AI-driven changes.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Amid concerns that AI could disrupt the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry, several private SaaS companies have taken the unusual step of publicly reporting their recent earnings. This is seen as an effort to reassure lenders and investors that they can weather the so-called "SaaSpocalypse" - the narrative that AI-powered tools could replace many enterprise software programs.

Why it matters

The SaaS industry has faced a major sell-off in recent months, with around $300 billion in business software company value disappearing. This has raised fears that highly indebted SaaS firms may struggle to service their debt if AI disrupts their business models. By proactively sharing earnings data, these companies aim to prove their resilience and dispel concerns about the impact of AI.

The details

Companies like McAfee, Rocket Software, Perforce Software, and Cloudera have announced recent earnings that are on par with or slightly better than the previous year's results. This is seen as an attempt to convince lenders that they are not about to miss debt payments due to AI-driven disruption. Some firms, like Perforce, are also touting plans to integrate AI into their products to drive future growth.

  • The SaaS industry sell-off occurred around the start of 2026.
  • The companies reported their recent earnings in February 2026.

The players

McAfee

A cybersecurity software company.

Rocket Software

An IT modernization company.

Perforce Software

A software development tools provider.

Cloudera

A data and AI platform vendor.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The companies will likely continue to monitor the impact of AI on their business models and look for ways to integrate AI technology to enhance their offerings.

The takeaway

The proactive earnings reporting by these SaaS companies suggests they are taking the threat of AI disruption seriously and are working to demonstrate their resilience to lenders and investors. However, the long-term impact of AI on the SaaS industry remains to be seen.