Shares of Salesforce (CRM) moved higher Friday as investors reacted positively to the company’s expanding artificial intelligence strategy, stronger financial performance, and a newly announced US Air Force contract that reinforced optimism around enterprise AI demand.
Salesforce shares gained roughly 4.1% during the session, outperforming the broader market.
The S&P 500 was down 1.03% while the Nasdaq 100 declined 1.19%.
Despite Friday’s gains, Salesforce shares remain down roughly 31% in 2026 and approximately 40% over the past 12 months as investors reassess software valuations and the pace of AI monetization across the enterprise technology sector.
AI strategy and product expansion remain central focus
Investor sentiment around Salesforce has increasingly centered on the company’s push to position itself as a major AI-powered enterprise software platform.
Earlier this week, Salesforce unveiled its “Summer ’26 Release,” introducing new AI, automation, and data-management features aimed at building what the company describes as an “Agentic Enterprise,” where human employees and AI agents collaborate across workflows.
The update includes expanded multi-agent orchestration capabilities, Slack-focused workflow integration, real-time data activation, and AI-powered customer engagement tools.
The company has also continued investing heavily in its Agentforce AI platform as broader demand for cloud-based AI services accelerates.
Analysts noted that the global cloud-computing market is projected to exceed $1 trillion this year, with AI-related services accounting for a growing share of enterprise spending.
Salesforce’s latest AI momentum also received a boost after the company secured a new $72 million contract from the US Air Force tied to Missionforce National Security, a platform designed to modernize personnel and operational functions using AI tools.
While the contract itself is relatively small compared with Salesforce’s overall revenue base, the agreement was viewed as another sign that large institutions continue adopting enterprise AI products.
Earnings strength helps support investor confidence
Salesforce’s recent quarterly earnings report also contributed to investor confidence.
The company reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of approximately $11.2 billion, up 12% year over year. Subscription and support revenue reached roughly $10.7 billion, representing 13% annual growth.
Net income climbed to approximately $1.94 billion, while adjusted earnings per share came in around $3.81.
Free cash flow for the full fiscal year rose to about $14.4 billion, highlighting continued strength in the company’s cash-generating capabilities.
CEO Marc Benioff described the latest quarter as “phenomenal” and said Salesforce is moving deeper into what he calls the “Agentic Enterprise.”
The company also ended the fiscal year with approximately $72 billion in remaining performance obligations, pointing to a sizable backlog of contracted business.
For the upcoming quarter, Salesforce projected revenue between roughly $11.03 billion and $11.08 billion. Fiscal 2027 revenue guidance ranges between approximately $45.8 billion and $46.2 billion.
Valuation debate continues on Wall Street
Despite Salesforce’s AI expansion and strong financial metrics, investors remain divided over whether the company can accelerate growth quickly enough to justify renewed bullishness.
Some analysts have expressed caution that enterprise adoption of newer AI products may take longer than expected, particularly as the broader Software-as-a-Service market matures.
At the same time, several firms argued that the stock’s valuation has become increasingly attractive after the prolonged decline.
Morgan Stanley recently maintained an “Overweight” rating with a $287 price target, while TD Cowen kept a “Buy” rating and a $250 target.
Other firms, including BMO and UBS, trimmed their price targets amid concerns over adoption trends, though JMP Securities raised its target to $315, citing confidence in Agentforce-related growth.
Overall, Wall Street sentiment remains broadly positive. Analysts currently maintain a consensus “Strong Buy” rating on Salesforce shares, with an average target price implying substantial upside potential from current levels.
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