Nasdaq Extends Slide as Investors Question AI Profitability and Returns

New York, Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
As US markets reopen post-holiday, the Nasdaq Composite is extending its longest weekly decline since 2022. Wall Street is undergoing a pivotal ‘reality check’ regarding the artificial intelligence sector, driven by startling data that only 14% of CFOs saw measurable returns on AI investments last year. This skepticism over valuation and monetization is triggering a rotation into defensive assets, as doubts linger despite massive capital spending projections from tech giants.