Revived AI Expectations Boost US Software Stocks, Market Cap Surges Over $20 Billion in a Day

Shares of Workday Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY) surged 5.08% to close at $144.99 (approximately ₩220,000) on the Nasdaq. Trading volume reached about 4.69 million shares, and its market capitalization climbed to roughly $29.1 billion (around ₩44 trillion), adding approximately $1.56 billion (some ₩2.4 trillion) in a single session.

This rally is attributed to the company’s strong Q1 fiscal 2027 results announced in May, its subsequent share repurchase program, and recent analyst upgrades, which collectively reignited investor sentiment. Several reports highlight that robust demand for AI-driven HR and finance automation, along with solid guidance, have propelled a rebound in valuations that had been weighed down earlier this year by a guidance miss.

Founded in 2005 in the United States, Workday is a cloud-based HR and financial software provider that has grown by delivering subscription-based SaaS solutions for enterprise HR management, accounting, and budgeting. The company has recently redefined itself as an “AI-powered enterprise platform” by integrating generative AI across its HR suite, including recruitment automation and skills matching.