Key Takeaways
- CRM stock has declined over 30% year-to-date in 2026, reaching a 52-week low of $174.57
- Board directors purchased CRM shares in mid-March at approximately $194–$195 per share
- The broader tech-software sector, measured by the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, has fallen nearly 24% this year
- Company exceeded Q4 expectations with EPS of $3.81 versus analyst estimates of $3.05, and approved a $25 billion stock repurchase program
- Several institutional investors expanded their CRM holdings during Q4 2024
Salesforce has experienced significant turbulence in 2026. The enterprise software giant’s shares have plummeted more than 30% year-to-date, pressured by widespread selling across the software sector and mounting concerns about artificial intelligence competition.
The decline accelerated in late January as AI disruption fears repeatedly weighed on the stock. A notable catalyst emerged when reports surfaced that Anthropic’s Claude AI assistant could directly control computer systems, sparking concerns about the long-term positioning of enterprise software platforms.
Yet amid this downturn, two company board members made notable purchases of CRM shares during March.
Board director Laura Alber — who simultaneously serves as Chief Executive Officer of Williams-Sonoma — acquired 2,571 shares of CRM stock at approximately $195 per share on March 19, totaling an investment of $451,166. This marked her first open-market transaction since becoming a board member in November 2021.
David Kirk, another board director and former chief scientist at Nvidia, purchased 2,570 shares at $194.62 each on March 18. This represented his first open-market acquisition of the year. Kirk’s direct holdings now total 13,689 shares with an approximate value of $2.5 million.
Robust Financial Results and Capital Return Program Fail to Halt Decline
Salesforce unveiled its Q4 financial results on February 25, surpassing analyst expectations. Earnings per share reached $3.81, significantly exceeding the consensus forecast of $3.05. Quarterly revenue totaled $11.20 billion, representing 12.1% year-over-year growth and marginally beating projections.
The company’s board approved a substantial $25 billion share repurchase authorization on March 16 — potentially retiring as much as 14.1% of outstanding shares. Additionally, the quarterly dividend increased to $0.44 from $0.42, representing an annualized payout of $1.76.
Despite these positive developments, the stock has continued its descent. Since March 19 — when Alber made her purchase — shares have dropped an additional 7%.
Institutional Investors Continue Accumulating Positions
On the institutional front, CMH Wealth Management expanded its CRM position by 37.3% during Q4, acquiring an additional 10,102 shares to reach a total holding of 37,208 shares, valued at $9.87 million. Multiple other institutional funds similarly increased their allocations during the period.
Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively control 80.43% of outstanding CRM shares.
Wall Street analysts maintain generally favorable views on the stock. CRM carries a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $280.21 — representing substantial upside from current trading levels. Individual analyst targets span from $250 (TD Cowen) to $430 (Citizens JMP).
For comparison, Agilysys (AGYS), another software company that witnessed insider purchases in mid-March, has appreciated 5.6% since director Melvin Keating bought $27,289 worth of shares between March 16 and 17.
