Salesforce Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $340 Calls at the Bid: 400 vs 345 OI; Earnings 8/27 After Close [est] 

Salesforce Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $340 Calls at the Bid: 400 @ $19.5 vs 345 OI; Earnings 8/27 After Close [est] Ref=$258.49

Salesforce Option Alert: Sep, 2026 $300 Calls Sweep (12) near the Ask: 204 vs 69 OI; Earnings 8/27 After Close [est] 

Salesforce Option Alert: Sep, 2026 $300 Calls Sweep (12) near the Ask: 204 @ $26.03 vs 69 OI; Earnings 8/27 After Close [est] Ref=$259.69

Salesforce Option Alert: Sep 19 $260 Calls Sweep (44) near the Ask: 430 vs 1954 OI; Earnings 8/27 After Close [est] 

Salesforce Option Alert: Sep 19 $260 Calls Sweep (44) near the Ask: 430 @ $17.601 vs 1954 OI; Earnings 8/27 After Close [est] Ref=$261.26

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) Stock

SALESFORCE INC

Salesforce

Salesforce provides enterprise cloud computing solutions. The company offers customer relationship management technology that brings companies and customers together. Its Customer 360 platform helps the group to deliver a single source of truth, connecting customer data across systems, apps, and devices to help companies sell, service, market, and conduct commerce. It also offers Service Cloud for customer support, Marketing Cloud for digital marketing campaigns, Commerce Cloud as an e-commerce engine, the Salesforce Platform, which allows enterprises to build applications, and other solutions, such as MuleSoft for data integration.

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In the last three months, 38 analysts have published ratings on Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The following table provides a quick overview of their recent ratings, highlighting the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $329.37, a high estimate of $430.00, and a low estimate of $200.00. This current average represents a 5.35% decrease from the previous average price target of $347.97. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752703231_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look</h2>
A comprehensive examination of how financial experts perceive Salesforce is derived from recent analyst actions. The following is a detailed summary of key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Walravens</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rishi Jaluria</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Walravens</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Bachman</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$335.00</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Vanvliet</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Vanvliet</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Schwartz</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Vanvliet</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tyler Radke</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$295.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brett Huff</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$309.00</td>
<td>$311.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Turrin</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brent Bracelin</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$335.00</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Schwartz</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nehal Chokshi</td>
<td>Northland Capital Markets</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$396.00</td>
<td>$423.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Weiss</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$404.00</td>
<td>$393.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Raimo Lenschow</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$347.00</td>
<td>$425.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gil Luria</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kash Rangan</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$385.00</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Moerdler</td>
<td>Bernstein</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$243.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rishi Jaluria</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$420.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Curtis Shauger</td>
<td>WestPark Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Berg</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gil Luria</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Hynes</td>
<td>Canaccord Genuity</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Curtis Shauger</td>
<td>WestPark Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Berg</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kash Rangan</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Karl Keirstead</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Bachman</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$367.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tyler Radke</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$335.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Karl Keirstead</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gregg Moskowitz</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$425.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Curtis Shauger</td>
<td>WestPark Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Berg</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kash Rangan</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Adjusts</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brent Bracelin</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Turrin</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gil Luria</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Salesforce. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Salesforce compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Salesforce's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Salesforce's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRM/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Salesforce analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Salesforce</h2>
Salesforce provides enterprise cloud computing solutions. The company offers customer relationship management technology that brings companies and customers together. Its Customer 360 platform helps the group to deliver a single source of truth, connecting customer data across systems, apps, and devices to help companies sell, service, market, and conduct commerce. It also offers Service Cloud for customer support, Marketing Cloud for digital marketing campaigns, Commerce Cloud as an e-commerce engine, the Salesforce Platform, which allows enterprises to build applications, and other solutions, such as MuleSoft for data integration.
<h3>Key Indicators: Salesforce's Financial Health</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3M period, Salesforce showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 7.62% as of 30 April, 2025. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Information Technology sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Salesforce's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 15.68%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Salesforce's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 2.53%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 1.53%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Salesforce's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 0.19.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

What 38 Analyst Ratings Have To Say About Salesforce

JMP Securities analyst Patrick Walravens reiterates Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) with a Market Outperform and maintains $430 price target.

News

Price Target

Reiteration

JMP Securities Reiterates Market Outperform on Salesforce, Maintains $430 Price Target

As the tech industry increasingly pivots towards artificial intelligence, Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift with its AI-powered Service Cloud. This strategic move not only highlights the growing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">importance of AI</a> in driving business growth but also reshapes investor perceptions of Salesforce&#8217;s long-term potential.
Bank of America Securities analyst Brad Sills <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRM/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintained a Buy</a> rating on Salesforce with a price target of $350 on Monday.
Salesforce is betting big on its largest business unit, Service Cloud, which analysts expect will generate $9.7 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue, making up 25% of total subscription revenue, Sills noted. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, growth slowed slightly to 7%.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46393365/salesforce-underperforms-market-as-growth-concerns-plague-crm-giant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Underperforms Market As Growth Concerns Plague CRM Giant</a>
Still, after adjusting for leap year effects and rounding, the analyst noted that the normalized rate stands closer to 8.5%, indicating only a modest deceleration.
He noted the slowdown has bottomed out and projects acceleration to 9% in the coming quarters, trending toward 12% in the long run.
Sills noted that Service Cloud's growth potential stands out across the industry, with projected incremental gains of 21%, significantly ahead of the next closest competitor at 7%. The analyst attributed this outperformance to Service Cloud's user-friendly interface, deep customization, seamless integration across sales and service, and, most notably, Agentforce, Salesforce's AI-powered service agent suite.
He said that add-ons such as Service Cloud Voice, Field Service, Customer Experience Intelligence, and Digital Engagement represent durable upsell opportunities that support this bullish outlook.
Sills noted that Salesforce's Agentforce AI suite is becoming a central growth lever. In recent partner conversations, the analyst stated that use cases such as case management, meeting preparation, shipment tracking, and analytics were repeatedly cited. 
He expects Agentforce for Service Cloud to contribute $1.7 billion in revenue over the next five years, helping the platform achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%, or 12% in an upside scenario. Sills noted that over 8,000 customers have already signed up for AI agents, with more than half of them converting to paying accounts.
The analyst noted that the Service Cloud platform provides agents with powerful tools, including AI-driven case routing, knowledge base searches, and self-service customer portals, making it a key enabler of customer satisfaction and lifetime value.
Salesforce offers pricing tiers ranging from the $25/month Starter Suite to the $550/month Agentforce 1 edition, which bundles AI credits and Data Cloud capacity for enterprise-scale deployments. According to the analyst, this flexible pricing model facilitates broad adoption across businesses of all sizes.
Crucially, Salesforce's go-to-market strategy integrates Agentforce into its existing customer base—60% of which already uses Sales or Service Cloud—allowing for easy cross-sell and bundled offerings, Sills noted. He said that by publicizing case studies from OpenTable, PepsiCo, and other enterprise users, Salesforce aims to demonstrate real-world benefits and drive deeper adoption of Agentforce.
The analyst noted that Salesforce is well-positioned to reaccelerate top-line growth with its AI-first vision, full-stack capabilities, and established customer base. He added that Service Cloud's continued evolution, primarily through Agentforce, may very well be the company's ticket to sustained leadership in enterprise software through the end of the decade.
Sills projected fiscal 2026 sales of $41.2 billion and EPS of $11.28.
CRM Price Action: Salesforce shares were up 1.07% at $260.83 at the time of publication Monday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Benzinga Pro</a>. 
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Photo: Shutterstock

Trading Ideas

Salesforce's AI Moves Could Skyrocket Service Cloud Revenue

Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) stock has significantly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/salesforce">underperformed</a> the broader tech market this year, plummeting nearly 22% while the S&amp;P 500 Information Technology Sector Index has gained 9%. 
This stark contrast arises as the cloud-based CRM leader, which primarily generates revenue from subscriptions and support, faces heightened competition from rivals like Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Oracle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>). 
Despite reporting strong Q1 results and maintaining a leading market share, Salesforce is navigating analyst skepticism regarding its acquisition strategy and future growth momentum.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45755544/rising-ai-analytics-budgets-could-lift-microsoft-snowflake-datadog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rising AI, Analytics Budgets Could Lift Microsoft, Snowflake, Datadog</a>
Salesforce&#8217;s core business involves selling subscriptions to its cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms and providing associated customer support services. This puts them in direct competition with various CRM and cloud-based software providers, notably Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Oracle.
During the pandemic, Salesforce quickly <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/in/news/stories/fy21-year-in-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adapted to a fully digital</a>, work-from-anywhere model, shifting 54,000 employees to remote work and reimagining every part of its operations. 
As businesses raced to digitize, Salesforce saw record demand for its cloud services, driving revenue up 24% to $21.25 billion in fiscal 2021. 
The company also joined the Dow Jones Industrial Average and signed a deal to acquire Slack, positioning itself at the center of the new digital workplace.
Salesforce led the <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/idc-crm-market-share-ranking-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global CRM market</a> in 2024 with a 20.7% share, according to IDC, marking its 12th straight year as the #1 CRM provider. 
It also held the top spot in North America, Latin America, Western Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and ranked #1 in Sales, Customer Service, and Marketing.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Financial Performance and Analyst Scrutiny</h2>
On May 28, the company reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45657851/salesforce-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-raised-guidance-momentum-in-agentic-ai-shares-surge" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter revenue</a> of $9.83 billion, up 8% on a year-over-year basis, beating the consensus estimate of $9.75 billion.
Operating margin came in at 19.8%, or 32.3% on an adjusted basis. Salesforce repurchased $2.7 billion of its stock in the quarter and returned $402 million to shareholders through dividend payments.
Salesforce expects second-quarter revenue of $10.11 billion-$10.16 billion versus estimates of $10.01 billion. 
Analysts, including Kash Rangan of Goldman Sachs and Mark Murphy of JP Morgan, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-beats/25/05/45674786/salesforce-posts-q1-beat-as-ai-crosses-1b-but-how-concerned-should-investors-be-about-margins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintained bullish ratings</a> after the company&#8217;s quarterly results but pointed to concerns over margins and future growth momentum.
DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/05/45650982/salesforce-buying-spree-worries-analyst-who-sees-informatica-deal-as-cover-for-weak-growth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> expressed skepticism over</a> its $8 billion Informatica acquisition. He questioned the strategic value of adding a legacy company with a weak execution record to address Salesforce&#8217;s slowing organic growth.
Luria warned that Salesforce may rely more on acquisitions to mask this slowdown and doubted the Informatica deal would reignite innovation. While it could be financially accretive in year two, he viewed the move as part of a broader trend of covering growth gaps with bolt-on data deals.
On June 18, Salesforce announced it will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45989577/salesforce-raises-enterprise-software-prices-6-as-company-pushes-ai-powered-agentforce-platform" rel="noreferrer noopener">raise prices by</a> an average of 6% for its Enterprise and Unlimited Editions starting August 1. The hike will be attributed to expanded AI tools under its Agentforce platform to boost margins.
The increase affects key products like Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, as Salesforce rolls out Agentforce add-ons starting at $125/user/month and Agentforce 1 Editions at $550/month, offering unlimited generative AI use.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Integration and Outlook</h2>
In June, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said AI <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46135663/marc-benioff-says-ai-now-handles-up-to-50-of-work-at-salesforce-could-an-ai-agent-eventually-take-over-his-job" rel="noreferrer noopener">now handles up to</a> 50% of tasks across key areas like engineering and support. In a Bloomberg interview, Benioff joked that he hopes AI could replace him someday, though he clarified the comment was partly tongue-in-cheek.
However, this week, Benioff rebutted fears of mass white-collar layoffs from AI, saying it will augment rather than replace jobs. At the 2025 AI for Good Global Summit, Benioff said AI will transform the workforce by enhancing human capabilities, not eliminating roles.
On June 9, Bank of America Securities analyst Brad Sills highlighted Salesforce&#8217;s growth in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45846294/which-software-stocks-is-bofa-securities-bullish-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its core products</a> and Agentforce platform despite some weakness in manufacturing and retail due to tariffs.
Sills highlighted that Salesforce&#8217;s COO and CFO, Robin Washington, acknowledged sector-specific challenges but pointed to broader momentum across its front-office applications, reflecting continued AI-driven growth and product expansion.
On June 24, BofA&#8217;s Sills said he expects Salesforce <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/46079632/bofa-sees-155-billion-agentic-ai-boom-by-2030-spotlights-microsoft-salesforce-and-others" rel="noreferrer noopener">to be one</a> of the key winners from the upcoming AI boom, driven by a surge in demand for agentic AI. The analyst noted Salesforce&#8217;s Agentforce platform as well-positioned to capitalize, citing its large customer base, strong data infrastructure, and early deployment of AI features.
BofA estimates global spending on agentic AI could hit $155 billion by 2030, far exceeding current forecasts. Sills believes companies like Salesforce will start meaningfully monetizing this wave beginning in 2026, as organizations move from pilot programs to full-scale deployment.
Price Action: CRM stock is trading higher by 1.02% to $260.70 at last check Monday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46367170/why-lam-research-outpaced-market-with-40-gain-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Lam Research Outpaced Market With 40% Gain In 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Movers

Tech

MSFT

ORCL

Salesforce Underperforms Market As Growth Concerns Plague CRM Giant

RBC Capital analyst Rishi Jaluria maintains Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) with a Sector Perform and maintains $275 price target.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Salesforce, Maintains $275 Price Target

Marc Benioff, CEO of&nbsp;Salesforce&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), has dismissed fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to mass layoffs of white-collar workers.
What Happened: Benioff shared his views on AI during an&nbsp;interview at the 2025 AI&nbsp;for Good Global Summit, as reported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-benioff-ai-white-collar-jobs-salesforce-2025-7">Business Insider</a>. He stated that AI would not lead to a significant reduction in white-collar jobs but would instead lead to &#8220;a radical augmentation of the workforce.&#8221;
Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/CRM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRM stock here</a>.
Benioff&#8217;s viewpoint differs from that of other tech leaders. For instance, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that AI could potentially eliminate as much as 50% of all entry-level white-collar jobs over the next five years.
The Salesforce CEO urged people to move beyond this &#8220;fear,&#8221; stating that his customers aren&#8217;t laying off employees due to AI advancements. Instead, he sees AI as a tool for amplifying the capabilities of businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones.
Despite the differing opinions, Benioff has put a pause on hiring engineers, lawyers as well and customer service agents at Salesforce for the year, to allow for the full integration of AI productivity. However, the company is increasing its sales-related hires due to the growing demand for AI deployment amid anticipation for major growth in small and medium businesses.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46384692/elon-musk-says-trump-wants-everyone-to-stop-talking-about-epstein-reiterates-demand-that-president-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says Trump Wants Everyone To &#8216;Stop Talking&#8217; About Epstein, Reiterates Demand That President &#8216;Just Release The Files&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Benioff&#8217;s stance on AI&#8217;s role in the workforce is not new. In June, he revealed in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46135663/marc-benioff-says-ai-now-handles-up-to-50-of-work-at-salesforce-could-an-ai-agent-eventually-take-over-his-job">interview</a>&nbsp;that AI was handling up to 50% of tasks at Salesforce, boosting productivity in key functions. This aligns with his current view of AI as a workforce augmenter.
However, not all tech leaders share Benioff&#8217;s optimism. Last week, Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46380955/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-warns-ai-could-replace-jobs-if-innovation-stalls-if-the-world-runs-out-of-ideas">warned</a>&nbsp;that AI could replace jobs if industries fail to innovate. Similarly, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44522899/anthropic-ceo-says-ai-could-write-90-of-code-in-3-to-6-months-warns-every-industry-will-be-affected">predicted</a>&nbsp;in March 2025 that AI could handle nearly all coding tasks within a year.
As AI continues to evolve, the debate on its impact on the workforce is likely to intensify. The differing views of tech leaders underscore the need for businesses to carefully navigate the integration of AI into their operations.
READ MORE: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46385002/nvidia-other-us-origin-ai-chips-shipments-to-china-will-now-require-trade-permits-says-malaysia-rule-violators-to-face-strict-action">Nvidia, Other US Origin AI Chips Shipments To China Will Now Require Trade Permits, Says Malaysia, Rule Violators To Face Strict Action</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

NVDA

Marc Benioff Dismisses AI Panic, Says White-Collar Workforce Won't Be Wiped Out

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) has begun testing Devin, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an autonomous AI</a> software engineer developed by Cognition Labs, as it seeks to integrate AI agents alongside its 12,000 human developers, tech chief Marco Argenti <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/goldman-sachs-autonomous-coder-pilot-marks-major-ai-milestone.html">told</a> CNBC.
Argenti said the firm will start deploying hundreds—and eventually thousands—of Devins to handle routine engineering tasks, such as updating internal codebases. These AI agents will operate under human supervision, significantly boosting developer productivity.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/06/45888329/goldman-sachs-isnt-just-a-trading-powerhouse-analyst-says-its-entering-new-era-of-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Isn&#8217;t Just A Trading Powerhouse, Analyst Says It&#8217;s Entering New Era Of Growth</a>
Goldman becomes the first major bank to pilot Devin, which gained attention in 2024 after Cognition Labs claimed it had built the world&#8217;s first fully autonomous software engineer. The startup, valued at nearly $4 billion, counts Peter Thiel&#8217;s Founders Fund among its backers.
Argenti described the initiative as a step toward a &#8220;hybrid workforce,&#8221; where humans and AI work side by side. The move underscores Wall Street&#8217;s accelerating adoption of agentic AI tools, which extend beyond assisting with tasks and executing complex, multi-step projects, such as building apps or modernizing infrastructure.
As AI adoption grows, concerns about job displacement continue. Bloomberg&#8217;s research unit estimates that banks may cut up to 200,000 jobs in the next 3–5 years due to AI automation.
Goldman&#8217;s approach, however, utilizes AI to offload repetitive tasks, allowing human developers to focus on higher-value projects.
Alibaba Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46314590/alibaba-predicts-ai-digital-colleagues-will-be-commonplace-within-five-years" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">each expect AI</a> to play a central role in reshaping the modern workplace by handling routine tasks and boosting human productivity.
Alibaba forecasts that AI-powered digital colleagues—virtual assistants capable of performing repetitive work—will become common within five years. According to Huang Fei, VP at Alibaba Cloud, these AI agents are already gaining traction across industries, allowing employees to focus more on strategic and creative work.
At Salesforce, CEO Marc Benioff said in June that AI now completes up to 50% of tasks in areas such as engineering and support. He even joked about AI replacing him, underscoring its expanding influence in leadership and operations.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also weighed in, stating in March that AI won&#8217;t replace knowledge workers but will redefine cognitive tasks, much like email or spreadsheets have transformed office work. He sees AI agents freeing people to focus on high-value activities.
Price Action: GS stock is down 1.29% at $700.00 premarket as of last check on Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45982631/amazon-ceo-says-generative-ai-will-reduce-total-corporate-workforce" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon CEO Says Generative AI Will Reduce Total Corporate Workforce</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Media

BABA

Goldman Bets On AI Developer To Boost Productivity—Could This Be The Future Of Wall Street Jobs?

Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google division will heavily discount cloud computing services for the U.S. government as the Trump administration pressures technology giants to slash prices on lucrative federal contracts worth more than $20 billion annually.
What Happened: The agreement follows Oracle Corp.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) precedent-setting deal that included 75% discounts on some software contracts and substantial reductions on cloud computing services. A senior General Services Administration official <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f4b6e155-8f2e-4486-8811-aaaa6158228a">told</a> the Financial Times that Google&#8217;s cloud contract is likely &#8220;to land in a similar spot,&#8221; with finalization expected within weeks.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Azure and Amazon.com Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Services are expected to follow with equivalent discounts, though negotiations remain less advanced than with Google, according to the GSA official. &#8220;Every single of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission,&#8221; the official said. &#8220;We will get there with all four players.&#8221;
The four cloud providers account for the bulk of the government&#8217;s annual $20 billion cloud services spending. President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration is attempting to slash IT procurement costs as part of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, previously led by Elon Musk.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46359669/teslas-annual-shareholder-meeting-set-for-november-6th-dan-ives-says-elon-musks-pay-package-in-the-spotlight">Tesla&#8217;s Annual Shareholder Meeting Set For November 6th, Dan Ives Says Elon Musk&#8217;s $56 Billion Pay Package &#8216;Will Be The Focus&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Oracle&#8217;s recent agreements could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46335864/oracle-stock-gains-as-30-billion-ai-cloud-deals-mark-pivotal-moment-in-race-against-rivals-jefferies-calls-it-a-hyperscale-leap-amid-trump-backed-stargate-push">generate over $30 billion in yearly revenue by fiscal 2028</a>, according to regulatory filings. Jefferies analysts called the deals a &#8220;pivotal moment&#8221; in Oracle&#8217;s transition to hyperscale cloud status, positioning the company to double its remaining performance obligations while accelerating revenue growth.
Tech leaders, including Meta Platforms Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Mark Zuckerberg and Google&#8217;s Sundar Pichai have courted Trump, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43085323/trump-sworn-in-as-47th-president-declares-golden-age-of-america-begins-right-now">appearing at his inauguration</a> and ending diversity programs. Amazon&#8217;s Jeff Bezos has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46107959/jeff-bezos-and-blue-origin-engaged-with-trump-administration-for-government-contracts-amid-elon-musks-rift-with-the-president-report">worked to rebuild relationships</a> after Trump&#8217;s first term saw AWS lose the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract to Microsoft in 2019.
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has formed close ties with Trump, participating in TikTok <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43118289/trump-open-to-elon-musk-or-larry-ellison-buying-tiktok-calls-us-permit-key-to-1-trillion-valuation">acquisition talks and the $100 billion</a> Stargate AI data center project alongside OpenAI.
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</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Politics

ADBE

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

Trump Pushes Google, Amazon, Microsoft To Cut Cloud Prices: $20 Billion IT Budget On Chopping Block As Oracle Sets Precedent: Report

BMO Capital analyst Keith Bachman maintains Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $350 to $335.

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on Salesforce, Lowers Price Target to $335

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in CRM usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 19 extraordinary options activities for Salesforce. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 36% leaning bullish and 57% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $1,308,956, and 13 are calls, amounting to $1,148,075.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $200.0 to $300.0 for Salesforce during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Salesforce stands at 2468.53, with a total volume reaching 4,948.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Salesforce, situated within the strike price corridor from $200.0 to $300.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Salesforce Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752159708_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$4.2</td>
<td>$4.05</td>
<td>$4.09</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$950.0K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$4.95</td>
<td>$4.9</td>
<td>$4.9</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$258.8K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
<td align="right">661</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$22.25</td>
<td>$21.55</td>
<td>$21.8</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$218.0K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td align="right">106</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$21.55</td>
<td>$21.3</td>
<td>$21.3</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$213.0K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td align="right">306</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$3.35</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.29</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$115.1K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td align="right">431</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Salesforce</h3>
Salesforce provides enterprise cloud computing solutions. The company offers customer relationship management technology that brings companies and customers together. Its Customer 360 platform helps the group to deliver a single source of truth, connecting customer data across systems, apps, and devices to help companies sell, service, market, and conduct commerce. It also offers Service Cloud for customer support, Marketing Cloud for digital marketing campaigns, Commerce Cloud as an e-commerce engine, the Salesforce Platform, which allows enterprises to build applications, and other solutions, such as MuleSoft for data integration.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Salesforce, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Salesforce Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,976,856, the CRM's price is down by -0.03%, now at $270.85. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 48 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Salesforce</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $325.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its rating to Overweight, setting a price target of $325. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald lowers its rating to Overweight with a new price target of $325.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Salesforce, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Markets

A Closer Look at Salesforce's Options Market Dynamics

The ongoing transformation in the artificial intelligence landscape is creating new opportunities for investors, particularly in the small-cap sector. C3.ai&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AI#NYSE">AI</a>) recent recognition by WestPark Capital as a &#8220;Buy&#8221; signal a shift in market sentiment, highlighting the company&#8217;s potential to emerge as a leader <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">in enterprise AI.</a>
Analyst Curtis Shauger initiates coverage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AI/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a price </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AI/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">target of $40</a> and notes that C3.ai presents a rare small-cap opportunity in the AI sector.
He sees potential for significant stock upside as the company approaches profitability within the next 12–18 months.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46317032/tesla-copper-prices-god-candle-evs" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Is Getting Burnt By Copper&#8217;s God Candle</a>
Shauger believes that as an early leader in enterprise AI, C3.ai has absorbed the high costs of educating the market, similar to what companies like Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) faced in SaaS's early days.
While the company's five-year CAGR of 18% trails Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) 31%, Shauger highlights that C3.ai is among the few enterprise software firms to show accelerating growth over the last 7–8 quarters.
If the company sustains this positive trend, investor sentiment could shift sharply in its favor.
The analyst also notes that the company's growing partner network is helping it broaden its reach and improve efficiency.
Since its IPO, C3.ai has added major players like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) to its indirect sales ecosystem, reducing its earlier reliance on oil and gas clients, particularly its partnership with Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>).
Shauger believes these alliances can play a crucial role in helping the company scale and move closer to profitability over the next 12 to 18 months.
He further suggests that a move toward profitability could drive a strong valuation boost.
The analyst's $40 price forecast assumes an 8x multiple on calendar year 2026 revenue of $598 million, which could be achievable if the company turns profitable.
C3.ai currently trades below its historical median valuation, yet shows encouraging momentum driven by a growing number of high-profile partnerships.
Price Action: AI shares are trading higher by 3.3% to $27.26 at last check on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

General

PLTR

C3.ai Could Be The Next Big AI Winner — Thanks To Big Tech Ties, Profit Push

In a bold projection that paints a picture of tomorrow&#8217;s workforce, Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) anticipates that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/alibaba" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI-powered &#8220;digital colleagues&#8221;</a> will be an everyday reality within the next five years.
This isn&#8217;t just a futuristic fantasy; it&#8217;s a strategic vision fueled by a burgeoning ecosystem of developers crafting sophisticated AI agents to cater to both consumer and business demands.
These digital colleagues, essentially virtual employees powered by AI software, are set to revolutionize how we work by taking on the repetitive, routine tasks traditionally handled by humans.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46273435/huawei-alibaba-clash-heats-up-on-ai-model-plagiarism-allegations" rel="noreferrer noopener">Huawei-Alibaba Clash Heats Up On AI Model Plagiarism Allegations</a>
This shift, according to Alibaba, will free up human employees to concentrate on more strategic, creative, and high-value responsibilities.
Huang Fei, vice president of Alibaba Cloud and head of its Tongyi Natural Language Processing Lab, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3317429/alibaba-expert-envisions-ai-agents-transforming-daily-life-5-years" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> the SCMP that agentic AI systems that autonomously carry out tasks and achieve goals on behalf of users are quickly gaining momentum across the industry.
Speaking at the China Conference 2025 hosted by the SCMP, Huang outlined how a handful of core model providers and a broader base of developers building specialized agents will likely shape the AI landscape.
This vision aligns with Alibaba&#8217;s broader strategy to become a central player in AI infrastructure and foundational models. The company&#8217;s Qwen series of open-source large language models has gained strong adoption, and Alibaba has committed over $53 billion toward AI infrastructure over the next three years.
Huang emphasized Hong Kong&#8217;s potential as a hub for AI development, citing its strong legal system, government support, leading universities, access to capital, and close connection to mainland China. He said the city provides financial backing, talent, and foundational support for the AI industry.
He also pointed to Hong Kong&#8217;s first AI Supercomputing Centre, launched in December and run by the government-backed Cyberport Management Company, which has already reached 90% utilization.
Huang outlined five stages in AI evolution. The first involved chatbots capable of responding to human language. The second, called the &#8220;reasoner,&#8221; included AI that could tackle math and code. The third, the &#8220;agent&#8221; stage, marks a shift toward systems that understand user goals and use tools to perform complex tasks.
This transformation is already being felt across industries. In June, Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) CEO Marc Benioff revealed that AI <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46135663/marc-benioff-says-ai-now-handles-up-to-50-of-work-at-salesforce-could-an-ai-agent-eventually-take-over-his-job" rel="noreferrer noopener">now handles up to 50%</a> of tasks in key areas like engineering, coding, and support. When asked if AI could replace him, Benioff joked, &#8220;I hope so,&#8221; highlighting AI&#8217;s growing role, even at the top.
Similarly, Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO Satya Nadella stated in March that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44066026/satya-nadella-says-ai-agents-will-replace-knowledge-work-but-theres-one-role-humans-will-always-need-to-play" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI will transform</a> how people perform cognitive tasks, rather than replacing knowledge workers outright. He foresees AI agents managing repetitive work, liberating humans for creativity and strategic thinking, much like email or spreadsheets did for previous generations.
Meanwhile, Alibaba and other Chinese stocks faced downward pressure on Wednesday amidst looming U.S. tariff deadlines. President Trump signaled potential tariffs as high as 70% effective August 1, a significant jump from the 10%-50% range proposed in April, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday. 
The first batch of tariff notification letters was sent to 12 countries on Monday, just before Wednesday&#8217;s deadline, marking the end of a 90-day pause. Investors anticipate continued uncertainty, as a comprehensive trade deal with all major partners—including India, Japan, and the EU—is unlikely to materialize this week.
It&#8217;s a stark contrast to May, when Beijing and Washington had <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45348699/us-listed-chinese-stocks-rally-as-countries-agree-to-ease-import-tariffs" rel="noreferrer noopener">agreed to temporary tariff reductions</a>: the U.S. cutting tariffs on most Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, and China lowering duties on American products from 125% to 10% for a 90-day period.
Price Action:&nbsp;BABA shares are trading lower by&nbsp;2.64% to&nbsp;$105.14 premarket at&nbsp;last check on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46292413/alibabas-delivery-ambition-sets-stage-for-chinas-epic-clash-of-giants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba&#8217;s Delivery Ambition Sets Stage For China&#8217;s Epic Clash Of Giants</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Mamun_Sheikh via Shutterstock

Asia

AAPL

Alibaba Predicts AI Digital Colleagues Will Be Commonplace Within Five Years

Figma Inc. has filed for an initial public offering, aiming to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol &#8220;FIG,&#8221; marking a significant step for the San Francisco-based design platform.
What Happened: The company, known for its collaborative browser-based tools used by major clients such as Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) and Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), reported robust financial growth ahead of its public debut. 
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Figma posted revenue of $749 million, a 48% increase year-over-year, and for the first quarter of 2025, revenue reached $228.2 million, up 46% from the prior year period. The company's compounded annual revenue growth rate over four years stands at 53%.
Figma's net income swung from $737.8 million in 2023—boosted by a $1 billion termination fee from the abandoned Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>) merger—to a net loss of $732.1 million in 2024, largely due to one-time stock-based compensation expenses. However, the company returned to profitability in the first quarter of 2025 with net income of $44.9 million. 
Figma's platform is now used by 95% of the Fortune 500 and 78% of the Forbes Global 2000, reflecting its widespread adoption across industries. The company has rapidly expanded its product suite, launching features such as Dev Mode for developers, FigJam for ideation, and new AI-powered tools like Figma Make, which can generate functional prototypes from prompts. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46212596/dow-jumps-400-points-as-senate-approves-tax-bill-investor-sentiment-edges-lower-but-fear-index-remains-in-greed-zone">Dow Jumps 400 Points As Senate Approves Tax Bill: Investor Sentiment Edges Lower, But Fear Index Remains In &#8216;Greed&#8217; Zone</a>
Why It Matters: Its Net Dollar Retention Rate was 134% at the end of 2024 and 132% as of March, indicating strong customer expansion and retention. 
The IPO follows Figma's earlier attempt to be acquired by Adobe for $20 billion, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/07/33353200/adobes-game-changing-20-billion-figma-acquisition-under-global-regulatory-microscope">deal blocked by regulatory authorities</a> over antitrust concerns. Figma's most recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38893439/figma-sets-12-5b-valuation-in-new-equity-offering-falling-short-of-adobes-acquisition-offer">private valuation was $12.5 billion</a>, set during a secondary share sale in 2024. Founder and CEO Dylan Field will retain significant voting power post-IPO, due to Figma's multi-class share structure.
Figma's business model is subscription-based, offering tiered plans for individuals, organizations, and enterprises, with pricing tailored to different user roles and workflows. &nbsp;
The company plans to use IPO proceeds for working capital, product development, and potential acquisitions, while repaying certain outstanding indebtedness. Figma does not anticipate paying dividends in the near future. 
Read Next: 
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: M.oo / Shutterstock.com

IPOs

Figma Targets Wall Street Debut After $20 Billion Adobe Deal Collapse

The first half of 2025 has come to a close and 21 of the 30 stocks that make up the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/dow-jones-industrial-average">Dow Jones Industrial Average Index</a> are positive year-to-date.
Despite the impressive number of stocks with a positive performance in the first six months, the index was up around 4% with several of the components posting large declines.
2025 Performance: Through the first six months of the year, two <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent Seven stocks </a>are among the 10 best in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and two are among the 10 worst in the index based on performance.
Here's a look at the 10 best Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in the first half:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>International Business Machines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>): +34.1%</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>): +23.6%</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>): +20.9%</li>
<li>Boeing Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>): +18.4%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): +18.0%</li>
<li>3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>): +17.9%</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>): +17.6%</li>
<li>Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>): +17.2%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): +13.6%</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>): +12.3%</li>
</ol>
Here are the 10 worst performing Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in the first half:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): -38.3%</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>): -20.4%</li>
<li>Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>): -18.4</li>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): -18.1%</li>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>): -6.1%</li>
<li>Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>): -5.7%</li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>): -5.0%</li>
<li>Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>): -1.1%</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): Flat</li>
<li>McDonald's Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NASDAQ">MCD</a>): +0.8%</li>
</ol>
Overall the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>), which tracks the index, was up around 4% in the first half of 2025. This was a lower gain than the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500, which had a 5.7% gain in the first half.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45932660/exclusive-sp-500-new-all-time-highs-again-2025">EXCLUSIVE: S&amp;P 500 To Hit New All-Time Highs Again In 2025? Majority Say Yes, 27% Predict This Range</a>
Why It's Important: Nvidia was one of the new Dow Jones components <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/12/42726598/dow-jones-2024-scoreboard-top-5-winners-losers-and-how-amazon-nvidia-could-reshape-2025">added in 2024</a> and the stock is one of the top performers in the first half of 2025. The stock replaced Intel, which was a top decliner in recent years.
The index also got rid of Walgreens, which was another poor performer in recent years. Its replacement Amazon was flat for the first half of 2025.
The new index makeup is showing strong signs of positive returns.
With 21 of the components positive year-to-date and one flat, this could mark one of the best years by the number of gainers in recent history.
In 2024, 18 of the 30 stocks were up for the full year. In 2023, 19 of the stocks in the index were up.
Perhaps most surprising is that two of the Magnificent Seven stocks rank among the worst performers in the first half of 2025, despite being part of the four Mag 7 members included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Apple was the fourth-worst performer in the index for the first half, falling 18.1%. That marks a sharp reversal from its standout status as the only Dow Jones stock to rank among the top gainers in both 2023 and 2024.
Amazon ranked ninth with a flat return, as only eight of the components were down. 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average remains one of the most closely watched stock market indexes, serving as a gauge of overall market health. With only 30 stocks and a weighting based on stock price, rather than market capitalization, the index is less frequently used by some analysts and market experts than the broader S&amp;P 500 Index.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Large Cap

Education

CSCO

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Dow Jones 2025 First Half Scoreboard: Top 10 Winners, Losers — Where Do Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?

Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 13.81% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 22.29%. Currently, Salesforce has a market capitalization of $260.65 billion. 
Buying $1000 In CRM: If an investor had bought $1000 of CRM stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $56,075.06 today based on a price of $272.65 for CRM at the time of writing.
<h3>Salesforce's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751379365_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$1000 Invested In Salesforce 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

On Thursday, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) CEO Marc Benioff reiterated that artificial intelligence is already handling up to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46118592/ai-runs-up-to-half-the-show-at-salesforce-ceo-says">half of the company's tasks</a> and revealed whether an AI agent could replace him in the future.
What Happened: During an interview with Bloomberg, Benioff said that AI has been integrated into critical functions at Salesforce. "We're looking at productivity levels of 30 to 50% this year in key functions like engineering, coding and support.&#8221;
When asked if an AI agent could eventually replace him, Benioff quipped, "I hope so," acknowledging his response was partly in jest.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Does Salesforce CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/Benioff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Benioff</a> think AI could replace him one day? His answer might surprise you. Tune in to The Circuit with <a href="https://twitter.com/emilychangtv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emilychangtv</a> to learn more about how AI is already doing making inroads at the company <a href="https://t.co/9WjdbRBePI">https://t.co/9WjdbRBePI</a> <a href="https://t.co/IfIhCiC8ka">pic.twitter.com/IfIhCiC8ka</a>
&mdash; Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/BloombergTV/status/1938261317271359809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46132007/amazon-google-not-far-behind-but-dan-ives-says-microsoft-clearly-leading-in-these-segments-600-price-target-is-probably-conservative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon, Google Not Far Behind, But Dan Ives Says Microsoft ‘Clearly Leading' In These Segments — $600 Price Target Is ‘Probably' Conservative</a>
Why It's Important: Benioff previously also spoke about AI handling&nbsp; 30% to 50% of the company's workload, calling it a "digital labor revolution."
He has also stated that AI is replacing human tasks with approximately 93% accuracy, enabling employees to focus on more valuable work.
Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46089330/bernie-sanders-slams-job-cuts-says-ai-should-give-workers-more-time-off-instead-of-throwing-you-out-on-the-street">pushing for a 32-hour workweek</a>, arguing that advancements in AI and automation should boost productivity and give workers more free time.
His latest statement came after Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) announced its third round of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/46083721/microsoft-stock-holds-steady-as-ai-drives-workforce-shift">2025 layoffs</a>, mainly affecting sales and customer-facing roles due to AI-related changes.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) CEO Andy Jassy also warned of corporate job <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45990634/amazon-ceo-andy-jassys-ai-led-job-cuts-warning-sparks-backlash-as-employee-reportedly-says-its-clearly-part-of-the-plan">cuts driven by AI efficiency</a>, prompting employee backlash.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings reflect a bearish outlook for CRM over the short, medium and long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Additional performance details can be found here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/27063055/Screenshot-2025-06-27-at-3.58.55%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-964738" /></a></figure>
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Photo courtesy: NYCStock / Shutterstock.

Marc Benioff Says AI Now Handles Up To 50% Of Work At Salesforce — Could An AI Agent Eventually Take Over His Job?

Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) CEO Marc Benioff said on Thursday that artificial intelligence is now responsible for handling between 30% and 50% of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/46079632/bofa-sees-155-billion-agentic-ai-boom-by-2030-spotlights-microsoft-salesforce-and-others">the company's workload. </a>
The Details: Salesforce is rapidly increasing its use of AI to automate tasks and streamline operations, Benioff told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/26/ai-salesforce-benioff.html">CNBC </a>in an interview.
The CEO emphasized that everyone must recognize how AI is taking over jobs previously done by humans, enabling teams to concentrate on higher-value activities.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/space/25/06/46055895/ast-spacemobile-stock-downgraded-rocket-lab-prepares-electron-launch-space-stock-countdown?utm_source=articleShare">AST SpaceMobile Stock Downgraded, Rocket Lab Prepares Electron Launch: Space Stock Countdown</a>
Benioff described this shift as a "digital labor revolution," noting that Salesforce's AI implementations have achieved about 93% accuracy—a level he considers strong, though he admits that perfect accuracy is unrealistic. 
He also pointed out that other providers struggle to match this level of precision, largely due to insufficient data and metadata.
The impact of AI adoption is being felt across the tech industry, with Salesforce itself eliminating over 1,000 jobs earlier this year as part of its AI-driven restructuring. 
Other major companies, such as CrowdStrike and Klarna, are also reducing their workforces as they invest in AI. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has mentioned plans to utilize AI to make the company's workforce more efficient.
What Else: On Tuesday, PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/06/46073995/pepsico-taps-salesforce-to-deploy-agentforce-for-ai-driven-growth">a major collaboration</a> with Salesforce to deploy Salesforce's Agentforce platform—an AI-driven tool designed to embed digital agents into operational workflows to streamline customer and sales processes.
Salesforce will also leverage its Data Cloud, Consumer Goods Cloud, Service Cloud and Marketing Cloud platforms to help unify PepsiCo's data streams and automate marketing and retail execution.
Beyond consumer goods, Salesforce is expanding Agentforce into other industries such as healthcare, showcasing the broad applicability of its AI-powered solutions.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

Management

AI Runs Up To Half The Show At Salesforce, CEO Says

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Matthew Vanvliet reiterates Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $325 price target.

Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Overweight on Salesforce, Maintains $325 Price Target

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO Satya Nadella called Palantir Technologies Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) Forward Deployed Engineer model &#8220;fantastic&#8221; at a Y Combinator event, prompting industry debate about the data analytics company&#8217;s unique approach to product development.
What Happened: Chad Wahlquist, Forward Deployed Architect at Palantir, responded to Nadella&#8217;s comments on X, rejecting misconceptions about the FDE model. &#8220;Many mistakenly believe the FDE model is just a new name for a change management consulting model. False,&#8221; Wahlquist wrote.
The FDE approach places engineers directly with customers to build products at the point of need rather than relying on traditional consulting methodologies. 
&#8220;FDEs build the product customers need, when they need it, at the edge,&#8221; Wahlquist explained. &#8220;The feedback loop from FDEs experiencing customer pain at the edge and turning it into product allows us to cycle and build the right product much faster.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Many mistakenly believe the FDE model is just a new name for a change management consulting model. False. FDEs build the product customers need, when they need it, at the edge. The feedback loop from FDEs experiencing customer pain at the edge and turning it into product allows… <a href="https://t.co/n5Z4d9W14P">https://t.co/n5Z4d9W14P</a>
&mdash; Chad Wahlquist (@chadwahl) <a href="https://twitter.com/chadwahl/status/1937994139280551978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This methodology differs significantly from traditional enterprise software sales cycles. Where companies like Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) rely on lengthy relationship-building processes, Palantir embeds technical experts directly with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45738764/garry-tan-says-founders-must-build-with-customers-to-compete-with-giants-like-salesforce-oracle-you-cant-farm-this-out">clients using its Foundry platform</a>.
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, who worked at Palantir from 2005 to 2007, previously outlined how FDEs sit with clients like FBI agents <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45738764/garry-tan-says-founders-must-build-with-customers-to-compete-with-giants-like-salesforce-oracle-you-cant-farm-this-out">investigating domestic terrorism</a>, observing actual workflows. &#8220;Instead of the next meeting being reviewing 50 pages of sales documentation, it&#8217;s literally like &#8216;Okay we built it,'&#8221; Tan said on the Lightcone Podcast.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46107638/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-beats-lawsuit-over-ai-training-on-books-judge-finds-no-meaningful-evidence-on-market-dilution">Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Beats Lawsuit Over AI Training On Books, Judge Finds &#8216;No Meaningful Evidence On Market Dilution&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The model&#8217;s effectiveness has attracted attention from major financial institutions. JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. CEO Jamie Dimon recalled his 2012 encounter with Palantir: &#8220;I remember sitting down with the Palantir people and going through this AI thing saying holy Christ this is this is unbelievable.&#8221; 
JPMorgan subsequently established its own AI department and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45897537/jamie-dimon-recalls-first-palantir-meeting-holy-christ-this-is-unbelievable-jpmorgan-now-has-600-ai-use-cases-2-billion-annual-investment-on-ai">now invests $2 billion annually in artificial intelligence</a> across 600 active use cases.
Palantir shares have surged over 492% in the past 12 months, reaching new all-time highs near $143. The company recently raised 2025 revenue guidance to $3.89-3.90 billion while projecting adjusted free <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45738764/garry-tan-says-founders-must-build-with-customers-to-compete-with-giants-like-salesforce-oracle-you-cant-farm-this-out">cash flow between $1.6-1.8 billion</a>. Recent catalysts include a $795 million Defense Department contract and commercial partnerships.
According to&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, Palantir shows strong Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Price Trends. Here&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how the stock performs across other key metrics</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/26032154/Screenshot-2025-06-26-at-12.50.39%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-962683" style="width:434px;height:auto" /></a></figure>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: slyellow / Shutterstock.com

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