Is SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF (XSW) a Strong ETF Right Now?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 08 2024
0mins
Should l Buy ZETA?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Overview of SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF (XSW): Launched in 2011, XSW is a smart beta ETF focusing on the software and services sector, with assets over $363 million and an expense ratio of 0.35%. It aims to match the performance of the S&P Software & Services Select Industry Index and has shown a year-to-date increase of approximately 4.99%.
Investment Considerations: While XSW offers diversification and potential for higher returns through non-cap weighted strategies, it carries a higher risk profile with a beta of 1.13. Investors may also explore other ETFs like Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (IGPT) or iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) for different investment strategies.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ZETA?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ZETA
Wall Street analysts forecast ZETA stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 14.980
Low
23.00
Averages
29.00
High
44.00
Current: 14.980
Low
23.00
Averages
29.00
High
44.00
About ZETA
Zeta Global Holdings Corp. operates an omnichannel data-driven cloud platform, which is engaged in providing enterprises with consumer intelligence and marketing automation software. It enables customers to target, connect and engage consumers through software that delivers personalized marketing across all addressable channels, including email, social media, Web, chat, connected TV (CTV) and video, among others. Its Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP) is an AI-powered marketing platform with identity data at its core. ZMP analyzes billions of structured and unstructured data signals to predict consumer intent, optimize messaging and drive personalized messaging across all channels. The Company’s Consumer Data Platform (CDP+) integrates LiveIntent’s identity graph, improving identity resolution while maintaining compliance with evolving privacy standards. Its Agile Intelligence suite provides customers with real-time, intent-driven insights.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Zeta Global Rated as One of the Best Mid-Cap AI Stocks
- Analyst Rating Changes: RBC Capital analyst Matthew Swanson lowered Zeta Global Holdings' price target from $30 to $27 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating a potential upside of 68.6% from current levels, reflecting optimistic market expectations for the stock.
- Wall Street Analyst Outlook: With a median price target of $30.5 from 14 analysts, Zeta Global shows an overall upside potential of 84%, suggesting a positive long-term growth outlook for the company in the market.
- Competitor Perspectives: In contrast, Goldman Sachs raised Zeta Global's price target from $23 to $26 on January 28 while maintaining a Neutral rating, anticipating increased merger and acquisition activity in the software sector by 2026, reflecting confidence in the industry's prospects.
- Market Environment Analysis: Analysts noted that lower public market valuations, combined with the inherent advantages of software companies, such as broad distribution networks and strong data positions, could create opportunities for value creation through cross-portfolio synergies and strategic acquisitions, enhancing Zeta Global's growth potential.
See More
1492 Capital Management Fully Exits Shift4 Payments Stake
- Stake Change: 1492 Capital Management completely sold its 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a strategic exit amid declining stock performance.
- Stock Performance: As of February 9, 2026, Shift4 Payments shares were priced at $58.61, reflecting a 52.1% decline over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 67.15 percentage points, raising concerns about its future outlook.
- Company Overview: Shift4 Payments specializes in payment processing and commerce-enabling software, serving various sectors including hospitality and eCommerce; despite a 22% revenue growth year-over-year in the first nine months of 2025, it faces intense competition and uncertainty.
- Management Transition Impact: Following founder Jared Isaacman's resignation, Shift4 Payments is undergoing a leadership transition, and while new CEO Taylor Lauber may drive growth, market sentiment remains cautious regarding the company's future performance.
See More
1492 Capital Fully Exits Shift4 Payments Stake
- Share Sale Details: On February 10, 2026, 1492 Capital Management disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold its entire holding of 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a $4.75 million decline in the company's stake value during this period.
- Impact on Holdings: Prior to the sale, Shift4 Payments accounted for 1.9% of 1492 Capital's AUM, and following the divestment, the fund holds no shares, reflecting concerns about the company's future prospects amid ongoing market challenges.
- Market Competition Pressure: Although Shift4 carved out a lucrative niche in the hospitality fintech sector, its stock has struggled in a highly competitive environment, particularly following the resignation of its founder, which likely influenced 1492 Capital's decision to exit its position.
- Future Growth Expectations: Despite analysts forecasting a slowdown in revenue growth to 25% in 2026, the anticipated 35% growth for 2025 and a relatively low 28 P/E ratio for a rapidly growing stock suggest a complex market perception regarding Shift4's future potential.
See More
Dan Ives: Wall Street's Top Performer – Is He Worth Your Trust?
- Dan Ives' Busy Schedule: Dan Ives is currently managing a demanding workload, indicating his active involvement in the financial sector.
- Market Insights: He is likely providing insights and analysis on market trends, reflecting his expertise and influence in the industry.
See More
Zeta Global (ZETA) Partners with OpenAI to Enhance AI Marketing Platform
- Price Target Increase: Morgan Stanley raised Zeta Global's price target from $23 to $27, reflecting confidence in the company's growth potential despite the lack of widespread enterprise spending recovery.
- AI Collaboration Upgrade: On January 5, Zeta Global announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate OpenAI models into its Athena marketing platform, aiming to enhance conversational intelligence and agentic applications for enterprise marketing, thereby strengthening its market competitiveness.
- Product Feature Expansion: This collaboration marks the expansion of beta access for Athena's two agentic applications—Insights and Advisor, with Insights providing immediate access to trends and user dashboards, while Advisor optimizes marketing campaigns based on specific objectives to enhance operational efficiency.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Despite SaaS application stocks lagging in 2025, easing concerns over AI threats are expected to foster a more positive market outlook for the sector in 2026, positioning Zeta Global to capitalize on selectively opportunistic growth opportunities.
See More
Zeta Global (ZETA) Forecasts 21% Revenue Growth by 2026 with $5.5B Market Cap
- Sustained Revenue Growth: Zeta Global achieved a 26% year-over-year growth in Q3, marking its 17th consecutive quarter of beating expectations, showcasing the strength of its AI-driven marketing platform in customer acquisition and retention.
- Expanding Customer Base: Zeta serves over 450 'scaled customers', including 180 'super scaled customers' spending at least $1 million annually, indicating the sustainability and growth potential of its revenue model.
- Profitability on the Horizon: Although Zeta reported negative net margins in the first two quarters, these have narrowed sequentially, and the company posted positive net operating income in Q3, with expectations of achieving consistent profitability by 2026, enhancing its investment appeal.
- Strong Long-Term Outlook: Zeta anticipates maintaining a 20% compound annual growth rate through 2028, projecting sales of $2.1 billion, while its current market cap of $5.5 billion suggests significant investment value given its growth history.
See More
Zeta Global Rated as One of the Best Mid-Cap AI Stocks
- Analyst Rating Changes: RBC Capital analyst Matthew Swanson lowered Zeta Global Holdings' price target from $30 to $27 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating a potential upside of 68.6% from current levels, reflecting optimistic market expectations for the stock.
- Wall Street Analyst Outlook: With a median price target of $30.5 from 14 analysts, Zeta Global shows an overall upside potential of 84%, suggesting a positive long-term growth outlook for the company in the market.
- Competitor Perspectives: In contrast, Goldman Sachs raised Zeta Global's price target from $23 to $26 on January 28 while maintaining a Neutral rating, anticipating increased merger and acquisition activity in the software sector by 2026, reflecting confidence in the industry's prospects.
- Market Environment Analysis: Analysts noted that lower public market valuations, combined with the inherent advantages of software companies, such as broad distribution networks and strong data positions, could create opportunities for value creation through cross-portfolio synergies and strategic acquisitions, enhancing Zeta Global's growth potential.
See More
1492 Capital Management Fully Exits Shift4 Payments Stake
- Stake Change: 1492 Capital Management completely sold its 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a strategic exit amid declining stock performance.
- Stock Performance: As of February 9, 2026, Shift4 Payments shares were priced at $58.61, reflecting a 52.1% decline over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 67.15 percentage points, raising concerns about its future outlook.
- Company Overview: Shift4 Payments specializes in payment processing and commerce-enabling software, serving various sectors including hospitality and eCommerce; despite a 22% revenue growth year-over-year in the first nine months of 2025, it faces intense competition and uncertainty.
- Management Transition Impact: Following founder Jared Isaacman's resignation, Shift4 Payments is undergoing a leadership transition, and while new CEO Taylor Lauber may drive growth, market sentiment remains cautious regarding the company's future performance.
See More
1492 Capital Fully Exits Shift4 Payments Stake
- Share Sale Details: On February 10, 2026, 1492 Capital Management disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold its entire holding of 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a $4.75 million decline in the company's stake value during this period.
- Impact on Holdings: Prior to the sale, Shift4 Payments accounted for 1.9% of 1492 Capital's AUM, and following the divestment, the fund holds no shares, reflecting concerns about the company's future prospects amid ongoing market challenges.
- Market Competition Pressure: Although Shift4 carved out a lucrative niche in the hospitality fintech sector, its stock has struggled in a highly competitive environment, particularly following the resignation of its founder, which likely influenced 1492 Capital's decision to exit its position.
- Future Growth Expectations: Despite analysts forecasting a slowdown in revenue growth to 25% in 2026, the anticipated 35% growth for 2025 and a relatively low 28 P/E ratio for a rapidly growing stock suggest a complex market perception regarding Shift4's future potential.
See More
Dan Ives: Wall Street's Top Performer – Is He Worth Your Trust?
- Dan Ives' Busy Schedule: Dan Ives is currently managing a demanding workload, indicating his active involvement in the financial sector.
- Market Insights: He is likely providing insights and analysis on market trends, reflecting his expertise and influence in the industry.
See More
Zeta Global (ZETA) Partners with OpenAI to Enhance AI Marketing Platform
- Price Target Increase: Morgan Stanley raised Zeta Global's price target from $23 to $27, reflecting confidence in the company's growth potential despite the lack of widespread enterprise spending recovery.
- AI Collaboration Upgrade: On January 5, Zeta Global announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate OpenAI models into its Athena marketing platform, aiming to enhance conversational intelligence and agentic applications for enterprise marketing, thereby strengthening its market competitiveness.
- Product Feature Expansion: This collaboration marks the expansion of beta access for Athena's two agentic applications—Insights and Advisor, with Insights providing immediate access to trends and user dashboards, while Advisor optimizes marketing campaigns based on specific objectives to enhance operational efficiency.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Despite SaaS application stocks lagging in 2025, easing concerns over AI threats are expected to foster a more positive market outlook for the sector in 2026, positioning Zeta Global to capitalize on selectively opportunistic growth opportunities.
See More
Zeta Global (ZETA) Forecasts 21% Revenue Growth by 2026 with $5.5B Market Cap
- Sustained Revenue Growth: Zeta Global achieved a 26% year-over-year growth in Q3, marking its 17th consecutive quarter of beating expectations, showcasing the strength of its AI-driven marketing platform in customer acquisition and retention.
- Expanding Customer Base: Zeta serves over 450 'scaled customers', including 180 'super scaled customers' spending at least $1 million annually, indicating the sustainability and growth potential of its revenue model.
- Profitability on the Horizon: Although Zeta reported negative net margins in the first two quarters, these have narrowed sequentially, and the company posted positive net operating income in Q3, with expectations of achieving consistent profitability by 2026, enhancing its investment appeal.
- Strong Long-Term Outlook: Zeta anticipates maintaining a 20% compound annual growth rate through 2028, projecting sales of $2.1 billion, while its current market cap of $5.5 billion suggests significant investment value given its growth history.
See More
