SaaS and Cloud Stocks Up Nearly 50% In 2009

MSPmentor’s SaaS 20 Stock Index, which tracks software as a service and cloud computing stocks, is up a whopping 47 percent so far in 2009, with three index members — Taleo Corp. (TLEO), SuccessFactors Inc. (SFSF) and Omniture Inc. (OMTR) — rising more than 100 percent so far this year. Here’s a closer look at the SaaS 20 Stock Index, and some changes we’ll be making to the index.

First, let’s set expectations: We don’t make buy, sell or hold recommendations. Rather, the SaaS 20 Stock Index allows us to track the relative health of the SaaS and cloud computing industry.

We launched the index in 2008 — and it generated a dismal first-year performance, falling roughly 50 percent as the recession pulled down all companies, including SaaS providers. But 2009 has been a different story. Of the 20 index members, 19 have seen their shares rise. And all of those increases involve double-digit returns so far this year.

Still, it’s time to make a few changes to the index. We want to make sure emerging cloud providers — such as Rackspace Cloud — are represented in the index. But before we make changes feel free to let me know who should stay and who should go. You can reach me via email: joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com.

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