Salesforce (CRM) stock rises into Presidents Day break as traders size up AI fears, earnings

Salesforce (CRM) stock rises into Presidents Day break as traders size up AI fears, earnings

February 14, 2026

New York, February 14, 2026, 11:12 (EST) — Market’s done for the day.

  • Salesforce wrapped up Friday’s session at $189.72, adding 2.3%.
  • U.S. markets are closed Monday for Washington’s Birthday. Trading picks up again on Tuesday.
  • Salesforce’s AI-commerce efforts are under the microscope, with investors awaiting Feb. 25 results for more concrete demand cues.

Salesforce, Inc. closed out Friday at $189.72, up 2.3%. Shares ranged from $184.31 to $193.43 through the session, with about 14.8 million exchanged on the day.

With U.S. markets shuttered Monday for Washington’s Birthday, weekend news has a longer shelf life before trading picks up again Tuesday. For Salesforce, that’s a double-edged sword after a week where software names swung back and forth.

According to Reuters on Friday, the so-called “AI scare trade” has recently spilled out of software and into other sectors, with investors zeroing in on companies they see as exposed to automation risks. Barclays equity strategist Emmanual Cau described the mood as “sell first think later.” Shares of Salesforce have slid roughly 30% in 2026, Reuters noted, even counting Friday’s bounce. Adobe and CrowdStrike have also felt the impact. Reuters

Salesforce played a key role Friday, making a noticeable impact across the tape. According to MarketWatch, gains in Salesforce and Caterpillar delivered the heftiest lift to the Dow, which climbed nearly 125 points.

Salesforce announced on Feb. 10 it’s struck a deal to buy Cimulate, which focuses on AI-driven product discovery and what the company calls “agentic commerce.” “The future of commerce is agentic,” according to Nitin Mangtani, Salesforce’s SVP & GM for Commerce and Retail. Cimulate’s CEO and co-founder John Andrews said joining Salesforce will help expand their technology’s reach. The acquisition is set to wrap up in the first quarter of Salesforce’s fiscal 2027, pending typical closing hurdles. Salesforce

Citizens cut its Salesforce price target to $315, down from $405, but stuck with an Outperform. In a note, analysts pointed to federal contract data showing $108 million in yearly award value across five January deals. That figure represents the annualized run-rate based on those specific contracts. The team left out the $5.6 billion U.S. Army IDIQ—an umbrella contract that covers multiple task orders.

Traders are weighing whether AI hype will translate to actual bookings soon, rather than just announcements. There’s also “seat” pressure in play—if customers need fewer user licenses because AI handles more tasks, that could drag on subscription growth.

Still, the rebound could vanish quickly if February numbers point to customers cutting back on cloud spending—or if software gets lumped in with other sectors expected to lose out from automation. Trouble blending recent small deals, or a public-sector pipeline that falls short of expectations, would make things worse.

Salesforce is pointing to a Spring ’26 product launch, set for Feb. 23, saying it plans to bring fresh AI, data, and automation tools into its customer-experience lineup.

All eyes now on earnings. Salesforce will unveil its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 numbers after the bell on Feb. 25, and a conference call is slated for 5 p.m. ET.

Marcin Frąckiewicz

Marcin Frąckiewicz is the CEO of TS2 Space and a longtime technology entrepreneur focused on telecommunications, satellite communications and digital innovation. A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), he writes about space technology, artificial intelligence and publicly traded technology companies. His analysis covers major market trends, emerging technologies and the businesses shaping the future of the global economy.

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