Salesforce Shares Under Pressure from AI Disruption

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The competitive landscape for enterprise software is shifting, and Salesforce is feeling the impact. Investor sentiment has turned cautious as a new wave of "agentic AI" tools from emerging startups raises fundamental questions about the future relevance of traditional SaaS platforms. This sector-wide narrative is weighing heavily on established players, including the customer relationship management leader.

The stock's performance reflects this anxiety, having trended lower over the past month. In today's trading, the share price touched $189.55, establishing a new 52-week low.

The pressure stems not from a company-specific event but from a broader industry reassessment. Innovations from AI firms like Anthropic are fueling concerns that autonomous AI agents could replace or significantly streamline functions currently handled by conventional business software. This prospect is triggering a widespread re-evaluation of established SaaS business models, making growth and revenue projections appear more vulnerable.

For Salesforce, the challenge is twofold. As businesses accelerate their deployment of AI agents, the central question evolves from "Which software should we purchase?" to "Which platform will govern, integrate, and manage these agents?"

Operational Risks Highlighted in New Report

Echoing this industry debate, Salesforce's own research points to a growing operational hazard. The company's 11th Connectivity Benchmark Report, which surveyed 1,050 IT leaders, identifies uncoordinated adoption of AI agents within organizations as a key risk.

The report's central finding is stark: while many companies are deploying AI agents, a lack of centralized oversight is common. Approximately half of all AI agents currently in use operate in isolation, a phenomenon IT executives are calling "Shadow AI."

This decentralized approach creates several significant problems:

• Governance Gaps: Agents operating outside official IT channels become difficult to monitor and control.
• Fragmented Workflows: Isolated agents can duplicate tasks or create bottlenecks, undermining efficiency.
• Wasted Potential: Without proper coordination, the promised productivity gains from automation are diluted.

Through this lens, Salesforce is framing its strategic position: the future lies not merely in AI itself, but in the orchestration and seamless connection between human users, data systems, and autonomous agents.

Wall Street's Cautiously Optimistic Stance

Despite the recent share price decline, the overarching analyst view remains favorable. As of early February, the consensus rating stood at "Strong Buy." However, signs of cautious recalibration are emerging. For instance, on February 3, 2026, Piper Sandler maintained its "Overweight" recommendation but opted to lower its price target.

This adjustment reflects a common theme: while long-term potential is still recognized, near-term uncertainty regarding AI's impact on valuations and competitive dynamics is making forecasts less straightforward.

All Eyes on the Upcoming Earnings Report

The immediate focus now shifts to the next quarterly update. Salesforce is scheduled to release its Q4 and full-year results for fiscal 2026 after the U.S. market closes on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The subsequent earnings conference call will be scrutinized for management's commentary on how AI is influencing the business, what new growth drivers are being emphasized, and how the company plans to navigate the increasingly AI-centric competitive environment.