Core Insights - Salesforce (CRM) is set to release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 25, with expected revenues between $11.13 billion and $11.23 billion, indicating an 11.7% increase year-over-year [1] - The company anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $3.02 to $3.04, reflecting a 9% increase from the previous year [2] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for fourth-quarter revenues is $11.17 billion, while the consensus for non-GAAP EPS remains at $3.03 [1][2] - Salesforce has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 6.9% [3] Factors Influencing Q4 Results - Salesforce's strong positioning is attributed to its focus on digital transformation and cloud solutions, which align with global business needs [6] - The demand for generative AI-enabled cloud solutions has significantly contributed to revenue growth, enhancing customer engagement and competitive positioning [7] - The company's expansion in key geographic markets and the public sector has unlocked new growth opportunities [8] Strategic Initiatives - Recent acquisitions, including Waii, Convergence.ai, and Zoomin, have enhanced Salesforce's capabilities and diversified its revenue base, likely driving higher subscription revenues [10] - Ongoing cost restructuring initiatives have improved profitability, with a non-GAAP operating margin increase of 240 basis points to 35.5% in the third quarter [11] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, Salesforce's shares have declined by 40.2%, underperforming the Zacks Computer – Software industry, which saw an 11.3% decline [12] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 14.17X, significantly lower than the industry average of 27.7X, indicating a potential investment opportunity [15][19] Investment Thesis - Salesforce maintains its leadership in the customer relationship management market and is evolving into a broader enterprise platform focused on AI, data, and collaboration [20] - The introduction of AI initiatives, such as Einstein GPT and Agentforce, has solidified its competitive edge, with Agentforce generating $540 million in recurring revenues, a 330% year-over-year increase [21][22] - The combination of strong market positioning, aggressive AI expansion, and lower valuation multiples suggests that Salesforce is a solid investment option [23]

Key Takeaways Salesforce takes the lead over Oracle in the cloud software investment debate.CRM's AI offerings drove $1.4B in Q3 recurring revenues, up 114% year over year.ORCL raised capex to $50B as Q2 free cash flow fell to negative $10B.Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) and Oracle Corporation (ORCL) are two major players in the cloud enterprise software market. Both companies offer powerful, enterprise-grade platforms spanning customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, database management and ...

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) shares have decreased by 16.8% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector which gained 10.8% [1] - The decline raises questions about whether this is a buying opportunity or a signal to move on from Salesforce stock, despite strong fundamentals still supporting investment in CRM [1] Performance Overview - Salesforce's revenue growth has slowed from double digits to single digits, with a year-over-year increase of only 8.7% in the first nine months of fiscal 2026 [3][4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects revenue growth of 9.5% for fiscal 2026 and 10.9% for fiscal 2027, indicating no significant improvement in the near term [4] Profit Forecasts - Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% over the next five years, a significant drop from the previous five years' CAGR of 27.8% [5] - EPS forecasts for fiscal 2026 and 2027 indicate year-over-year improvements of 15.3% and 10.5%, respectively [5] Market Dynamics - The slowdown in growth reflects cautious enterprise spending amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical pressures, leading businesses to prefer smaller, lower-risk IT investments [4][9] - Salesforce is focusing on enhancing its enterprise software portfolio and integrating AI across its product lines to remain competitive [9] AI Integration and Revenue Growth - Salesforce's AI initiatives, particularly Agentforce and Data Cloud, generated $1.4 billion in recurring revenues in Q3 of fiscal 2026, marking a 114% year-over-year increase [12] - Agentforce alone contributed $540 million in recurring revenues, up 330% year over year, with over 50% of deals coming from existing clients [12] IT Spending Trends - Gartner estimates worldwide IT spending will increase by 9.8% year over year to $6.08 trillion in 2026, with software expected to grow by 15.2% to $1.43 trillion [13] - Despite potential short-term spending slowdowns, digital transformation remains a priority for businesses, ensuring steady demand for Salesforce's solutions [13] Valuation Analysis - Salesforce's stock currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 14.89, significantly below the sector average of 25.91, indicating that much of the pessimism is already priced in [14] - Compared to competitors like SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle, Salesforce stock is cheaper on a P/E basis [17] Competitive Position - Salesforce has outperformed major competitors in the enterprise software space over the past six months, with Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle stocks declining by 23.1%, 29.2%, and 43.5%, respectively [18] Investment Recommendation - Despite slowing growth, Salesforce's leadership in customer relationship management, focus on AI, strategic acquisitions, and reasonable valuations provide compelling reasons to invest in the stock [19]

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. and Adobe Inc. are prominent players in the enterprise software sector, focusing on productivity, customer engagement, and digital transformation [1][2] Salesforce Stock Analysis - Salesforce maintains its leadership in the customer relationship management market and is expanding into a broader ecosystem centered on AI, data, and collaboration through acquisitions [3] - The integration of generative AI, particularly with the rollout of Einstein GPT, is pivotal for Salesforce's growth, enhancing automation and decision-making for businesses [4] - The introduction of Agentforce and Data Cloud has resulted in $1.4 billion in recurring revenues for Q3 FY26, marking a 114% year-over-year increase, with Agentforce alone contributing $540 million, a 330% increase [5] - Financial performance remains strong, with revenues and non-GAAP EPS increasing by 10% and 34.9% year-over-year in Q3 FY26, respectively, surpassing consensus estimates [6] - The total remaining performance obligation (RPO) reached $59.5 billion, up 12% year-over-year, with expectations of a 15% increase in Q4 FY26, indicating ongoing growth [7] - Salesforce is transitioning to a more efficient and profitable enterprise solution provider while maintaining a focus on innovation [8] Adobe Stock Analysis - Adobe is experiencing growth in its AI-powered tools, such as Creative Cloud Pro and Acrobat, with new features enhancing user productivity [9] - The Firefly tool is becoming a significant growth driver within Adobe's creative ecosystem, with new mobile solutions aiding content creation [10] - Financially, Adobe reported a 10.5% increase in revenue and a 14.3% increase in earnings year-over-year for Q4 FY25, exceeding consensus estimates [13] - Adobe targets a 10.2% annualized recurring revenue growth for FY26, driven by its AI portfolio and expanding enterprise adoption, although its AI revenues are small compared to competitors [14] Comparative Growth Outlook - Both companies are leveraging AI, but Salesforce shows slightly stronger near-term growth potential, with consensus estimates indicating 9.53% revenue and 15.29% EPS growth for FY26 compared to Adobe's 9.5% revenue and 12.03% EPS growth [15] - Salesforce's earnings estimate revisions reflect a more bullish outlook from analysts compared to Adobe [15] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past three months, Salesforce's stock has declined by 9.8%, while Adobe's has dropped by 15.3%, indicating stronger investor confidence in Salesforce [19] - In terms of valuation, Salesforce trades at 4.67 times forward 12-month sales, slightly lower than Adobe's 4.74 times [20] Final Assessment - Salesforce is positioned as a stronger investment option due to its clearer path to monetizing AI, stronger customer retention, and better margin stability compared to Adobe [23] - Salesforce holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), while Adobe has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [24]

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) shares have declined 17.9% over the past year, underperforming the Zacks Computer – Software industry's 10.7% gain, with competitors like Microsoft and Oracle showing positive growth [1][5][20] Financial Performance - Revenue growth for Salesforce has slowed to 8.7% year over year in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, a significant decrease from previous double-digit growth rates [5][6] - Earnings per share (EPS) is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% over the next five years, down from 27.8% in the previous five years [7] Market Dynamics - The slowdown in growth is attributed to cautious enterprise spending amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical pressures, with no significant improvement expected in revenue projections for fiscal 2026 and 2027 [6][10] - Businesses are shifting from large digital transformation projects to smaller, lower-risk investments, impacting Salesforce's growth strategy [10] AI Integration and Innovations - Salesforce is focusing on enhancing its enterprise software portfolio and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across its product lines, which could help regain growth momentum [10][12] - The introduction of AI tools, particularly Agentforce, has generated $1.4 billion in recurring revenues in Q3 FY26, with a 114% year-over-year increase [13] IT Spending Trends - Worldwide IT spending is projected to increase by 9.8% year over year to $6.08 trillion in 2026, with software expected to grow even faster at 15.2% to $1.43 trillion [14] Valuation Metrics - Salesforce is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 20.16, significantly lower than the industry average of 28.47, making it an attractive investment from a valuation perspective [15][19] Strategic Positioning - Salesforce's strategic acquisitions and focus on AI and enterprise software position it well for long-term growth, despite current challenges [11][20]

Core Insights - Salesforce (CRM) and ServiceNow (NOW) are leading enterprise cloud software companies that assist large organizations in modernizing operations and automating workflows [1][2] Salesforce Overview - Salesforce maintains a leading position in the customer relationship management market and is expanding its ecosystem to include artificial intelligence (AI), data, and collaboration [3] - The company has integrated generative AI into its offerings, significantly enhancing automation and decision-making capabilities [4] - In Q3 of fiscal 2026, Salesforce's AI-driven products generated $1.4 billion in recurring revenues, marking a 114% year-over-year increase, with Agentforce alone contributing $540 million, up 330% year over year [5] - However, Salesforce is experiencing a slowdown in sales growth, with revenues increasing by only 8.7% year over year in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, reflecting cautious enterprise spending [6][7] ServiceNow Overview - ServiceNow is benefiting from increased adoption of its workflows, which support automation across various business functions, driving efficiency for customers [8] - The company closed 103 transactions exceeding $1 million in net new annual contract value (ACV) in Q3 2025, with a total of 553 customers contributing over $5 million in ACV [9][10] - ServiceNow's AI strategy includes a comprehensive approach to enterprise adoption, exemplified by its AI Control Tower, which helps monitor AI agents across systems [10][12] - The federal business segment of ServiceNow grew over 30% year over year in Q3 2025, indicating strength in a challenging market [13] Growth Outlook Comparison - ServiceNow's growth profile appears stronger, with projected revenue and earnings per share (EPS) growth of 20.5% and 24.5% for 2025, and 18.1% and 16.8% for 2026 [14] - In contrast, Salesforce's fiscal 2026 estimates indicate a revenue growth of 9.5% and an EPS increase of 14.6%, with projections of 10.8% and 10.5% for fiscal 2027 [17] Valuation and Performance - Over the past six months, Salesforce shares have decreased by 2.4%, while ServiceNow shares have fallen by 25.2% [21] - Salesforce trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 5.48, significantly lower than ServiceNow's 10.23 [23] Conclusion - While Salesforce is a stable and profitable company, its growth has slowed. ServiceNow demonstrates stronger growth, better execution, and clearer demand trends, giving it an edge as an investment despite a higher valuation [25]

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with shares rising 9.3% since the earnings release on December 3 [1] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $3.25 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.04%, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 34.9% [2] - Revenues of $10.3 billion matched consensus expectations and grew 10% year over year [2] Financial Performance - The growth in revenue and EPS is attributed to Salesforce's effective go-to-market strategy and focus on customer success, alongside the integration of generative AI into its offerings [3] - AI-driven products, particularly Agentforce and Data Cloud, generated $1.4 billion in recurring revenues, marking a 114% year-over-year increase, with Agentforce alone contributing $540 million, up 330% year over year [6] - Salesforce's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 20.98, lower than the industry average of 29.55, making it an attractive investment option [8][12] Market Trends - Global spending on generative AI is projected to reach $644 billion by 2025, indicating a 76.4% year-over-year increase, with enterprise software expected to grow by 93.9% to $37.16 billion [7] - Despite economic uncertainties, digital transformation remains a priority for businesses, ensuring continued demand for Salesforce's solutions [7] Challenges - Salesforce is experiencing a slowdown in sales growth, with revenue increases cooling to single digits, showing only an 8.7% year-over-year growth in the first nine months of fiscal 2026 [13] - Analysts project revenue growth of around 10% year over year for fiscal 2026 and 2027, indicating no significant improvements in the near future [14] - EPS growth is expected to decline to a CAGR of 15% over the next five years, down from 27.8% in the previous five years [15] Investor Sentiment - The slowdown in growth has negatively impacted investor sentiment, with Salesforce shares down 21.9% year to date, while the industry has seen an 11.5% increase [17] - Compared to competitors like Microsoft and Oracle, Salesforce's stock performance has lagged, with Microsoft and Oracle shares rising 34.3% and 16.6% year to date, respectively [17] Conclusion - Despite the challenges of slowing growth, Salesforce's leadership in the CRM market, focus on AI, strategic acquisitions, and attractive valuations suggest a hold position for long-term gains [20]

Core Insights - Salesforce and Oracle are leading players in the cloud software market, providing enterprise-grade platforms for various business needs [1][2] - The ongoing digital transformation raises the question of which stock presents a better investment opportunity [2] Salesforce Overview - Salesforce maintains its leadership in the customer relationship management market and is expanding its ecosystem to include AI, data, and collaboration [3] - The introduction of Einstein GPT has integrated generative AI into Salesforce's offerings, enhancing automation and decision-making for clients [4] - AI-driven products like Agentforce and Data Cloud generated $1.2 billion in recurring revenue in Q2 of fiscal 2026, marking a 120% year-over-year increase [5] - Global spending on generative AI is projected to reach $644 billion by 2025, with enterprise software expected to grow by 93.9% to $37.16 billion [6] - Despite a revenue growth slowdown to 8.7% year-over-year in the first half of fiscal 2026, this is attributed to macroeconomic factors rather than company-specific issues [7] Oracle Overview - Oracle's revenues increased by 12% year-over-year to $14.9 billion in Q1 of fiscal 2026, with cloud revenues rising 27% to $7.19 billion [8] - Cloud infrastructure revenues surged 54% to $3.35 billion, with management projecting significant growth in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure revenues [8][10] - Oracle has secured multi-billion-dollar contracts with major tech companies, contributing to its optimistic growth outlook [9] - The company is investing heavily in infrastructure, expecting to spend around $35 billion in fiscal 2026, which is 70% higher than the previous year [12] - Despite strong revenue growth, Oracle's non-GAAP EPS increased only 6%, and it reported a negative free cash flow of $362 million in Q1 of fiscal 2026 [13] Comparative Analysis - Oracle's growth outlook appears stronger, with projected revenue and EPS growth rates of 16.5% and 12.9% for fiscal 2026, respectively [14] - In contrast, Salesforce's fiscal 2026 estimates indicate more modest growth rates of 8.8% for revenue and 11.4% for EPS [15] - Year-to-date, Salesforce shares have decreased by 32.1%, while Oracle shares have increased by 19.3% [17] - On a valuation basis, Salesforce has a forward P/E ratio of 18.33, compared to Oracle's 26.95 [18] Conclusion - Oracle is positioned as the more compelling investment choice due to its accelerated growth in AI, unified platform strategy, and favorable growth outlook [21] - Salesforce's slowing growth has impacted its stock price, but its leadership in CRM and focus on AI remain positive factors [22]

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 19.44, which is significantly lower than the Zacks Computer – Software industry's average of 30.31 [1][4][7] - The company faces challenges due to slowing sales growth, with revenues rising only 8.7% year over year in the first half of fiscal 2026, compared to previous double-digit growth [4][5][11] - Despite the slowdown, Salesforce's focus on expanding its enterprise software offerings and integrating AI into its products may provide a foundation for future growth [13][20] Valuation and Competitiveness - Salesforce's P/E ratio is lower than major competitors such as Microsoft (29.97), Oracle (32.56), and SAP (31.72), indicating a potentially attractive valuation for investors [4][11] - The company's stock has underperformed year-to-date, dropping 28.2%, while the industry has seen a rise of 12.8% [11] Growth Challenges - Analysts project that Salesforce's revenue growth will remain in the high single-digit percentage range for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, reflecting cautious enterprise spending [5][6] - The company's EPS is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% over the next five years, a significant decline from the previous five years' CAGR of 27.8% [6] Strategic Initiatives - Salesforce is focusing on AI-driven offerings, such as Agentforce and Data Cloud, which generated $1.2 billion in recurring revenues in Q2 of fiscal 2026, marking a 120% year-over-year increase [17] - The company is also making strategic acquisitions to enhance its enterprise platform, including companies like Waii, Bluebirds, Informatica, and Slack [14][15] Market Trends - Global spending on generative AI is projected to reach $644 billion by 2025, indicating a 76.4% year-over-year increase, which could benefit Salesforce [18] - The enterprise software segment is expected to grow by 93.9% to $37.16 billion, ensuring steady demand for Salesforce's solutions despite potential short-term economic slowdowns [19]

Core Insights - Clara Shih has been appointed to HubSpot's Board of Directors, bringing her expertise in AI from her role at Meta [1][2] - HubSpot's stock has declined by 34% this year, contrasting with the Nasdaq's 22% gain, indicating investor concerns about AI's impact on future business [3] - The company is actively integrating AI into its operations to enhance efficiency and growth potential [4] Company Developments - Clara Shih joined Meta to lead its AI product team, focusing on tools for businesses, including the recently launched Business AI [2] - HubSpot is acquiring XFunnel, a platform aimed at optimizing business presence on AI search engines, and has already introduced its own AI tool for brand awareness analysis [7] - HubSpot's CEO highlighted Shih's leadership and experience in AI product development as crucial for the company's growth strategy [5][6] Market Context - The tech sector is experiencing varied impacts from the AI boom, with HubSpot facing challenges as investors express concerns about AI's future business implications [3] - Analysts predict a slowdown in HubSpot's revenue growth this year and in 2026, reflecting broader market apprehensions [3]