New York, Feb 12, 2026, 11:16 a.m. EST — Regular session
- Salesforce shares slipped 1.6% in morning trading, closing in on a new 52-week low
- The company has agreed to acquire Cimulate, an AI product-discovery firm; terms of the deal were not disclosed
- All eyes are now on the Feb. 25 earnings for clues about demand and the progress of AI rollout
Salesforce shares dropped 1.6% Thursday morning, slipping to $182.12. The stock has plunged almost 30% over the past month, trading just above its 52-week low as volume increased.
The recent drop follows Salesforce’s announcement that it signed a definitive agreement to buy Cimulate, an AI-driven product discovery firm targeting retailers. Financial details remain under wraps, with the deal slated to close in fiscal 2027’s first quarter.
Salesforce described the deal as a step toward expanding “agentic” commerce—AI that acts autonomously instead of just responding to queries. “The future of commerce is agentic,” said Nitin Mangtani, senior vice president and general manager at Salesforce. John Andrews, CEO of Cimulate, added the partnership would allow them to “scale our technology” with major retailers. Salesforce news release
Timing is key as Salesforce approaches earnings season, where investors tend to react sharply to any forecast misses. The company plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 results after market close on Feb. 25.
Reuters reported Tuesday that Salesforce is slashing fewer than 1,000 jobs, referencing a Business Insider article and online chatter. Salesforce has yet to respond to the claims.
Some industry observers view the Cimulate acquisition as more of a tactical move than a bold gamble. “Salesforce is acquiring Cimulate because Agentforce Commerce required a retail grade intent intelligence engine,” explained Sanchit Vir Gogia, chief analyst at Greyhound Research. CIO
“Intent” language has turned into a major flashpoint in retail tech. Rather than just matching keywords, platforms now attempt to decode what shoppers truly want based on their behavior and context. Salesforce is banking on this approach, especially as more commerce moves to conversational interfaces.
The stock has lately acted as a stand-in for wider concerns about enterprise software. A sharp selloff hitting U.S. software companies recently stems from worries that rapidly evolving AI technologies might drive down prices and shake up service-heavy business models.
There’s also the straightforward risk that a small acquisition won’t impact the upcoming quarters. If Salesforce’s Feb. 25 forecast signals weaker cloud demand, rising AI expenses, or uneven deal activity, traders might continue pressuring the shares.
Investors are now focused on Feb. 25, looking for clues on whether AI products are driving new spending or simply shifting existing budgets—and if management can stabilize expectations after a rocky period for the stock.
