Vinva Investment Boosts Salesforce Holdings by 55.2% in Q2

Vinva Investment Management Ltd has significantly increased its stake in Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM) by 55.2% during the second quarter of this year. According to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Vinva acquired an additional 22,445 shares, bringing its total holdings to 63,119 shares, valued at approximately $17,258,000.

This increase in ownership comes alongside notable activity from other large investors. For instance, Nuveen LLC established a new position in Salesforce during the first quarter, valued at around $2.04 billion. Furthermore, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC dramatically lifted its holdings by 27,361.5%, now owning 3,424,169 shares worth about $933.74 million after acquiring an additional 3,411,700 shares.

Acadian Asset Management LLC also expanded its position in Salesforce, increasing its holdings by 1,729.6% and owning 1,973,141 shares valued at $538.02 million. Other significant investors, such as Longview Partners Guernsey LTD and Vanguard Group Inc., have also made substantial investments, with Vanguard now holding 87,913,628 shares worth $23.59 billion.

The trend of institutional investment is noteworthy, with 80.43% of Salesforce’s stock now owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Salesforce Stock Performance and Earnings Report

On the trading front, shares of Salesforce opened at $228.27 on Thursday, reflecting a 2.5% decline. The company currently boasts a market capitalization of $217.31 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.18. Over the past year, Salesforce has seen a low of $221.96 and a high of $369.00.

Salesforce’s financial performance remains robust. In its most recent earnings announcement on September 3, 2023, the company reported earnings per share of $2.91, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $2.78 by $0.13. The company generated revenue of $10.24 billion, exceeding estimates of $10.14 billion, and recorded a net margin of 16.87% alongside a return on equity of 13.27%. This marks a 9.8% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year.

Salesforce has also issued guidance for fiscal year 2026, projecting earnings per share between 11.330 and 11.370. For the third quarter of 2026, the expected range is 2.840 to 2.860 earnings per share.

Dividend Announcement and Analyst Ratings

In addition to its impressive earnings report, Salesforce declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on October 9, 2023. Shareholders recorded on September 17, 2023, received a dividend of $0.416 per share, translating to an annualized dividend of $1.66 and a yield of 0.7%. The company’s dividend payout ratio stands at 24.13%.

Analysts have varied in their assessment of Salesforce’s stock. Wall Street Zen recently downgraded the stock from a “buy” to a “hold” rating, while UBS Group lowered its price target from $300.00 to $260.00 and maintained a neutral stance. Northland Capital Markets also shifted its rating from “strong buy” to “hold.” In contrast, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating but adjusted its price target down to $340.00.

Overall, Salesforce has garnered 25 buy ratings, 13 hold ratings, and 1 sell rating from analysts, resulting in an average rating of “Moderate Buy” with a target price of $322.86.

In related news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 122 shares of company stock on November 3, 2023, at an average price of $259.00, totaling approximately $31,598. Following this transaction, Benioff retains ownership of 11,911,571 shares, valued at around $3.09 billion.

Salesforce continues to play a significant role in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) sector, offering technology that connects companies and customers globally. The company’s offerings include data storage, lead monitoring, analytics, and customer support services, positioning it strongly in the competitive market.