New York, Feb 24, 2026, 11:52 EST — Regular session.
- Salesforce shares rebound in Tuesday trade after a sharp software-sector selloff a day earlier.
- Anthropic’s new enterprise AI plug-ins put Salesforce’s Slack back in focus.
- Earnings due Wednesday after the close, with traders watching for a reset in the stock’s direction.
Salesforce (CRM) shares rose 4% to $185.24 in late-morning trading on Tuesday, clawing back ground after a 3.8% slide a day earlier. The stock sank as low as $174.57 on Monday. (Investing)
The bounce came as U.S. stocks steadied after Monday’s drop, with software and other high-growth names trying to recover. Traders pointed to Anthropic’s rollout of new enterprise AI tools, developed with partners including Salesforce and FactSet, while tariff uncertainty stayed in the background. “The market doesn’t only have one particular worry,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities. (Reuters)
Salesforce’s next catalyst lands fast. The company is set to report results after the bell on Wednesday, and options pricing suggests traders see room for a sharp move — about 9% up or down by week’s end — based on the cost of short-dated contracts. Analysts tracked by Investopedia expected adjusted profit of $3.05 per share on revenue of $11.18 billion, while noting the stock has fallen about a third so far in 2026. (Investopedia)
Anthropic’s announcement itself was aimed at day-to-day corporate work — plug-ins for tasks ranging from investment banking to HR and design — and it leaned on big-name distribution. Anthropic said partners included Salesforce’s Slack and DocuSign, and its news pushed up shares of several tied names; Salesforce rose about 4% in the initial reaction. “It’s not a product that’s trying to own every workflow,” said Scott White, Anthropic’s head of product for enterprise. (Reuters)
Some investors remain wary that the AI story cuts both ways for software vendors, even when the tape is green. “It’s still early in the process,” said Robert Pavlik, senior portfolio manager at Dakota Wealth, adding that “you definitely need human intervention.” Ken Polcari, partner and chief market strategist at SlateStone Wealth, called Monday’s selloff “so overdone” it “can’t help but bounce.” (Reuters)
For Salesforce, the earnings call is likely to turn on a familiar set of pressure points: how fast customers are buying new products, whether deals are getting smaller, and whether management sounds cautious on corporate spending.
Investors will also listen for commentary on “bookings” — shorthand for contracts signed that can signal future revenue — and whether demand is shifting toward newer AI features or simply replacing older software spend.
There is a downside case, too. If Salesforce’s outlook suggests customers are delaying projects, or if tariffs and policy whiplash start to hit IT budgets, Tuesday’s rebound could fade quickly.
The competitive backdrop is not letting up. Big enterprise buyers have choices, and any hint that Salesforce is losing momentum to rivals could show up first in guidance, not in the quarter just reported.
Traders will also be watching whether the broader software group holds onto Tuesday’s gains. The sector has been sensitive to abrupt swings in AI sentiment, and recent moves have been sharp in both directions.
Salesforce is scheduled to release fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 results on Wednesday, Feb. 25, after the close, and to host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET. (Salesforce)
