Marc Benioff's $25 Billion Bet Against the "SaaSpocalypse" Earlier This Year Is Now Paying Off for Salesforce Investors, and It's Not Too Late to Join
Key PointsSalesforce's stock dropped as AI-related fears led investors to reevaluate its future growth prospects.
In the first half of 2026, the software sector faced a significant decline, with industry giants like Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) plummeting in value. Fears of artificial intelligence rendering enterprise software obsolete prompted investors to reassess the sector's leading stocks. During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call in February, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff reassured shareholders, declaring it a "great buying opportunity" amidst the turmoil.
He thanked the board for approving a $50 billion share repurchase program, which encompassed a $25 billion accelerated buyback. The CEO swiftly implemented the plan, issuing debt to fund the stock purchases.
Since the end of March, Salesforce's share price has surged 38%, further bolstered by the company's robust second-quarter earnings report in late August. This surge has ignited optimism among investors who may have missed the chance to acquire the SaaS stock at a lower price. The latest earnings report revealed several encouraging announcements that suggest the investment could still be highly advantageous.
While the opportunity may have passed for some, it appears that it is not too late for others to join the growing band of Salesforce investors reaping the rewards of Benioff's daring $25 billion bet against the looming SaaSpocalypse.
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