salesforce(US:CRM) 智通财经网·2026-02-26 00:32Core Viewpoint - Salesforce (CRM.US) reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings but saw a significant stock price drop due to lackluster sales growth outlook for the new fiscal year, raising concerns about its competitive position in the AI era [1][2]. Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter ending January 31, Salesforce reported revenue of $11.2 billion, a 12% year-over-year increase, slightly above market expectations of $11.18 billion, marking the fastest growth in two years [2]. - The adjusted earnings per share were $3.81, significantly exceeding the market expectation of $3.04 [2]. - The current remaining performance obligations (CRPO) reached $35.1 billion, surpassing the market expectation of $34.53 billion [2]. AI Competition Concerns - Salesforce's revenue growth was partly driven by the acquisition of Informatica, which contributed $399 million in sales [2]. - The growth rates for Salesforce's core business lines, sales and customer service software, were 8% and 7% respectively, both slightly below Wall Street expectations [2]. - The company is viewed as a representative of Wall Street's anxiety regarding how AI may disrupt existing software vendors, with its stock price having dropped approximately 37% over the past 12 months [2]. AI Strategy - To address AI challenges, Salesforce is heavily investing in its AI platform, Agentforce, which can perform tasks like sales development and customer service without human supervision [3]. - The annual recurring revenue from this product surpassed $800 million in the fourth quarter, up from $500 million in the previous quarter [3]. - Analysts emphasize the need for Salesforce to demonstrate how clients can scale AI applications beyond pilot projects [3]. Future Outlook - Despite market concerns, Salesforce provided an optimistic short-term outlook, projecting first-quarter revenue between $11.03 billion and $11.08 billion, with adjusted earnings per share between $3.11 and $3.13, both above analyst expectations [4]. - The company anticipates a revenue growth rate of 10% to 11% for the full year and expects organic growth to accelerate in the second half [4]. - Salesforce announced a new $50 billion stock buyback plan and increased its quarterly dividend to $0.44 per share, reinforcing its commitment to shareholder value [4]. - CEO Marc Benioff stated that the buyback was initiated due to the current low stock price and emphasized the goal of achieving $63 billion in annual revenue by fiscal year 2030, exceeding previous expectations [4]. Analyst Ratings - Morgan Stanley analysts maintained a "buy" rating for Salesforce, noting that the promotion of its AI business is still in the early stages [5].