Salesforce’s Strategic AI Acquisition: A Bid to Reignite Growth

Salesforce is making a deliberate move to strengthen its position in the automated agent space through acquisition. The CRM leader's agreement to purchase Qualified, a specialist in AI-driven marketing automation, sends a clear strategic message: autonomous AI systems capable of managing customer interactions independently represent the future. While Salesforce shares remain well below their annual peak, this strategic clarity is drawing renewed investor attention.

The company's recent operational strength lends credibility to its ambitious investments. For the third quarter, earnings per share came in at $3.25, significantly surpassing analyst expectations of $2.86. This demonstrates Salesforce's ability to maintain profitability even while committing substantial resources to new technology development.

Revenue growth, however, presents a more measured picture. The figure of $10.26 billion met, but did not exceed, market forecasts. The pace of expansion remains solid yet unspectacular, placing greater emphasis on the company's ability to translate its AI initiatives into accelerated top-line growth in the medium term.

The Qualified Deal: Accelerating the "Agentforce" Vision

This acquisition is a direct fit within Salesforce's "Agentforce" initiative, which aims to establish the company as the market leader in autonomous enterprise agents—systems that complete tasks without human intervention. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, though financial terms were not disclosed.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Salesforce?

The timing is notable. Salesforce reports it has already secured 9,500 paid Agentforce contracts, indicating tangible demand for this new product generation. Integrating Qualified's technology is intended to rapidly expand the offering and accelerate monetization of these autonomous systems.

Valuation and Market Perspective

Following a decline of approximately 28% from its 52-week high of $367, the stock has found stability around the $263 level. The technical recovery from its yearly low of $222 remains intact. Analysts, including those at Macquarie, now view the valuation as reasonable, with price targets aligning with the current trading range.

For investors, the central question is whether this focused AI offensive can put Salesforce back on a stronger growth trajectory. The successful integration of Qualified and the conversion of those 9,500 Agentforce contracts into rising revenue growth will be the critical metrics to watch over the coming quarters.