Salesforce (CRM) Stock Soars 13% to $232 After Hours as AI Growth and $2.6 Billion Anthropic Gain Fuel Rally

Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) stock surged about 13% to nearly $232 in after-hours trading on August 26, 2026, after the company reported strong fiscal second-quarter results. Revenue rose 11% to $11.35 billion, while rising demand for its AI products gave investors more confidence in the company’s growth. A $2.6 billion gain linked to Anthropic added to the move. Salesforce also raised its outlook and expanded its AI strategy, leaving investors to assess whether the rally can continue for CRM stock.

Salesforce Stock Surges as Q2 Results Beat Expectations

Salesforce reported strong fiscal second-quarter results on August 26, 2026. Revenue rose 11% year over year to $11.35 billion, while current remaining performance obligations increased 14% to $33.5 billion. Subscription and support revenue came in at $10.8 billion.

The numbers suggest that enterprise demand remains firm, even as investors debate whether AI could disrupt traditional software companies.

Adjusted earnings reached $5.90 per share, though investment gains contributed significantly to that figure. Strong revenue growth, combined with higher guidance, helped push Salesforce stock about 13% higher in after-hours trading.

How Did the Anthropic Gain Boost Salesforce Earnings?

Salesforce recorded a significant gain from its strategic investments, including Anthropic. Reuters reported that investment gains contributed about $2.53 per share to earnings.

That distinction matters. Investors looking at Salesforce’s underlying performance need to separate recurring business earnings from the benefit of a large investment gain.

The Anthropic relationship still gives Salesforce more than a financial boost. It also gives the company exposure to a fast-growing part of the enterprise AI market.

Agentforce and Data 360 Show Salesforce’s AI Growth Is Accelerating

Why Is AI Becoming Important for Salesforce Stock?

Salesforce said annual recurring revenue from Agentforce and Data 360 reached nearly $3.9 billion, up more than 210% year over year. Agentforce alone generated about $1.5 billion in ARR.

The company also processed more than 7 billion agentic work units, including 3.2 billion during the second quarter. That level of activity suggests that more customers are moving beyond early AI trials and using these tools in regular business operations.

📈 Salesforce just delivered one of its strongest quarters ever — and AI is only accelerating from here.

**Key Points:**
– Adj. EPS hit $5.90 vs. $3.26 estimate — a massive beat — while revenue grew 11% YoY to $11.3B.
– cRPO surged 14% YoY to $33.5B, and Agentforce ARR topped… pic.twitter.com/xtW6vocfRP

— Jesse option (@AShmueil) August 26, 2026

Salesforce needs new sources of growth as companies reconsider how they spend on traditional software. An AI stock analysis tool can help investors follow whether this rapid AI growth carries into upcoming earnings reports.

Claudeforce Expands the Salesforce-Anthropic Partnership

Salesforce and Anthropic announced Claudeforce on August 26, 2026. The partnership combines Claude’s reasoning capabilities with Salesforce’s enterprise data, workflows, business logic and governance.

Its first offering, Salesforce in Claude, includes 37 prebuilt sales skills. The product is designed to help users analyse live business data and take action without leaving the AI interface.

Salesforce plans to launch an open beta in September 2026.

Salesforce Raises FY2027 Guidance

Salesforce raised its fiscal 2027 revenue forecast to $46.1 billion to $46.4 billion, up from its previous range of $45.9 billion to $46.2 billion. The company also forecast adjusted EPS of $16.67 to $16.71.

The revised outlook gave investors another reason to focus on the company’s AI products. For now, Salesforce expects AI to add to its existing software business rather than take revenue away from it.

What Meyka Says About CRM Stock?

Meyka’s Salesforce stock analysis points to a positive long-term AI-based outlook, with a 1-year target of $272.85 and a neutral RSI reading of 49.99 on the page indexed by Meyka. Its technical analysis page described CRM’s broader trend as bullish, while momentum remained neutral to bullish. These readings can change as market conditions shift.

Other analysts remain broadly positive as well. JPMorgan recently gave Salesforce an Overweight rating with a $250 target. A wider analyst consensus tracked by Investing.com stood at Buy, with an average 12-month target of about $243.98.

What Could Drive Salesforce Stock Next?

Investors should now watch:

• Agentforce and Data 360 revenue growth.
• Adoption of Claudeforce.
• Growth in cRPO and enterprise contracts.
• Future guidance without large investment gains.

Conclusion

Salesforce stock’s rally came after stronger AI growth, solid Q2 revenue and improved guidance. The Anthropic gain gave earnings a sizeable lift, but recurring AI revenue may have a bigger effect on the stock’s longer-term performance. If Agentforce and Data 360 continue growing at their current pace, CRM stock could have more support. The next earnings reports should give investors a clearer view of whether Salesforce can turn growing AI demand into sustained revenue and profit growth.

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is for research and informational purposes only. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be treated as investment or trading advice.