Prediction: this FTSE 100 stock will be an AI winner, not a loser

Over the past 18 months some FTSE 100 stocks have been split into two camps: those seen as AI beneficiaries (AI ‘winners’) and those perceived to be at risk from the technology (AI ‘losers’).

In the AI winners camp, there’s Computacenter, whose share price is up 150% since January 2025, and Rolls-Royce (up 100% in 18 months). Over 25% of data centres globally rely on Rolls-Royce’s mtu Series 4000 generator sets for failsafe security, but AI-driven demand for primary power is also growing.

In the AI loser camp, there are data platforms like London Stock Exchange Group, RELX, Auto Trader, and Sage (LSE:SGE). These stocks are all down 30% or more within the past couple of years.

But what if some of these actually turn out to be AI winners?

AI adoption is growing

Let’s zoom in on Sage, the provider of finance, HR and payroll software to millions of small and medium-sized customers. The stock has fallen around 30% since early 2025, as investors fret about AI’s impact on its business.

Now, I can’t rule out AI disrupting Sage over the long run, particularly by eroding its pricing power. AI agents are developing rapidly — perhaps too quickly! I don’t have a crystal ball, more’s the pity.

But what’s interesting here is that the company is already proving that its AI-powered tools are attracting strong demand from customers. In Q3 FY26, there was growth in the platform’s AI agentic capabilities and Sage Copilot.

This looks likely to continue, as Sage’s AI tools were available to over 600,000 customers in July. That was up more than 20% since the firm reported its half-year results in May. So more and more customers are getting access to these products.

[AI] adoption continues to grow, as customers increasingly rely on Sage for critical finance, HR, and Payroll workflows, where getting it right is essential.

CFO Jacqui Cartin.

On the Q3 earnings call, CEO Steve Hare confirmed that over half of new mid-sized Sage Intacct customers are taking the AI-powered accounts payable (AP) module. The AP automation agent here can save customers hours of manual data entry.

Importantly, Sage’s customer churn rates are stable and the business is still growing. In the first nine months of FY26, revenue rose by 11% to £2,062m, including 14% growth in North America, setting the firm up to meet or exceed full-year guidance for organic revenue growth above 9%.

A potential bargain

We’re seeing an uptick within cross-sell and upsell, and the churn rates are quite stable.

Jacqui Cartin.

Based on the evidence I see, Sage is benefitting from AI, not being negatively impacted by the technology. It is monetising AI by helping its customers become more efficient and this trend has a long runway ahead as the technology becomes more powerful.

Crucially, Sage’s proprietary AI tools and agents are reliable and trustworthy. The 45-year old firm has amassed hard-to-replicate data from handling billions of transactions across millions of businesses. 

So what if Sage is actually going to be an AI winner then rather than a loser? Well, in that case, the stock looks to be a bargain, trading at 17 times forward earnings versus a 10-year average of 24.

As such, I see this FTSE 100 stock as a compelling buying opportunity to consider today.

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Ben McPoland owns shares of Rolls-Royce and Sage.