Are software companies like Oracle and Salesforce headed for the trash icon of history?

Investors have been dumping their stocks in software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies since late January, with one trader (and dozens of headlines) dubbing it the “SaaS-pocalypse.” So while time will tell whether the end is actually nigh, change is in the air. And like seemingly all things business-related in 2026, that change is predicated on some form of AI.

The prevailing theory behind the sell-offs seems to be that sophisticated workplace agents as well as new coding tools from Anthropic and OpenAI could make this sort of business software model obsolete. If an IT team can easily “vibe code” internal software or assign tasks to role-specific plug-ins within Claude Cowork, do they still need expensive pay-per-seat platform subscriptions?

“The thing with agentic systems is now you can have agents just read your business policies and generate the software,” Booz Allen chief technology officer Bill Vass told us. “This is going to disintermediate these SaaS vendors and these ERP vendors. The market just realized that, and that’s the reason you see the big reaction.”

Keep reading.—Patrick Kulp

One of the world’s most-watched shareholder letters debuted a new author last week.

When Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of last year, he handed the keys (and the pen) to Greg Abel. The PwC alumnus and employee of Berkshire since 2000 published his first annual shareholder letter on February 28.

In the letter, he outlined a commitment to upholding Buffett’s legacy and the business philosophy of prioritizing shareholders’ interests. The 18-page letter also went granular on everything from capital discipline to specific companies and industries.

“I give him a gold medal for laying out the technical aspects of the company,” Macrae Sykes, portfolio manager at the Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities exchange-traded fund, told Barron’s. “The letter is very comprehensive, his knowledge is incredible which is not a surprise, but still impressive to see.”

And for CFOs, Abel laid out a syllabus of financial leadership. Here are three key principles for CFOs to consider.

Keep reading.—JK

Participation in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) grew 8% from 2014–2023. Now, the Department of Labor (DOL) is encouraging more employers to offer the benefit, according to a new report.

ESOPs allow employees to become part owners in their employer’s business. Ownership can grow over time, and can be offered instead of or in addition to a 401(k) plan. The US government established this type of ownership model in 1974 to help close the wealth gap, but has encouraged employers to offer it more frequently in recent years.

The report was released as part of the requirements outlined in the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, which requires the DOL to educate businesses on and encourage adoption of employee ownership through, for example, tax benefits, which are available to companies that are at least 30% employee owned.

Keep reading on HR Brew.—KP

New research suggests CFOs who hand off accounting oversight are less likely to leave—and more likely to advance. Here’s why redistributing responsibilities could improve retention and career trajectory.