Salesforce Bets on Data Cloud: Will This Offset Slowing Growth Trends?

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is experiencing a slowdown in revenue growth, transitioning from double-digit increases to single-digit growth over the past year, prompting a focus on enhancing AI capabilities and the Data Cloud business to regain momentum [1][11] Data Cloud Strategy - The Data Cloud is central to Salesforce's strategy, enabling customer data integration across its products, with a reported 140% year-over-year increase in customer adoption in Q2 of fiscal 2026 [2][11] - Over half of the Fortune 500 companies are utilizing the Data Cloud platform, indicating strong demand from large enterprises for unified data and effective AI usage [2][11] - Salesforce is integrating the Data Cloud with tools like Agentforce, Tableau, and Slack, which is expected to facilitate data analysis and drive higher-value contracts, contributing to top-line growth [3][11] Revenue Generation Potential - Salesforce's data-related business is estimated to generate approximately $7 billion annually, with significant revenue growth potential due to a consumption-based pricing model for the Data Cloud platform [4][11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 indicates year-over-year revenue growth in the high single-digit range, with the impact of Data Cloud adoption on overall revenue expected to be observed in the coming quarters [5][11] Competitive Landscape - Salesforce faces increased competition in the Data Cloud service space from Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) and Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) [6][11] - Microsoft integrates its Azure Data platform with productivity tools like Power Platform and Dynamics 365, leveraging its existing cloud user base to attract new clients [7] - Snowflake focuses solely on data services, offering robust cloud-based data warehousing and analytics tools, which differentiates it from Salesforce [8] Stock Performance and Valuation - Salesforce shares have declined by 31.8% year-to-date, contrasting with a 10.6% growth in the Zacks Computer – Software industry [9][11] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.4, significantly below the industry average of 29.52, indicating potential undervaluation [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings suggests year-over-year increases of approximately 11.4% and 11.2%, respectively, with recent revisions showing upward adjustments for fiscal 2026 and downward adjustments for fiscal 2027 [16]