This Software Stock Looks ‘Washed Out’ but Analysts Think 2026 Could Be Its Turnaround Year. Why?

Core Viewpoint - Salesforce stock has experienced a correction of 22% year-to-date but has seen a recent rally of 15% in the last month due to strong Q3 results and a positive growth outlook, making it a potential investment for 2026 [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Salesforce reported Q3 2026 revenue of $10.3 billion and a GAAP operating margin of 21.3% [3] - The company has closed over 18,500 deals with Agentforce since its launch, including 9,500 paid deals, indicating strong customer intake acceleration [5] - Salesforce returned $4.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in Q3 2026, suggesting sustained value creation [6] Group 2: Analyst Insights - Evercore has identified Salesforce as a top enterprise software stock for 2026, citing momentum from its AI strategy and potential revenue re-acceleration [2] - Mizuho analyst Gregg Moskowitz noted that Salesforce is systematically addressing challenges related to Agentforce adoption, which is expected to lead to growth acceleration [2] Group 3: Stock Performance - CRM stock has remained relatively stable over the past six months, but the potential for growth acceleration makes it an attractive consideration [4]